Drew Peterson case returns to court as ex-cop seeks to have murder conviction overturned

Diane Pathieu Image
Monday, April 1, 2024
Convicted killer Drew Peterson case returns to court
Drew Peterson wants a new trial on the claim that his lead attorney Joel Brodsky did not allow him to testify on his own behalf in 2012.

JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) -- Convicted killer Drew Peterson was back in a Will County courtroom on Monday seeking a new trial.

The former Bolingbrook police sergeant claims his former attorney Joel Brodsky poorly represented him at a 2012 trial and did not let him testify on his own behalf.

On Monday, Peterson asked the judge for another mental competency evaluation, claiming the last one was inconclusive.

Peterson's public defenders said they want a neuropsychologist to evaluate Peterson's mental capacity.

The 70-year-old former Bolingbrook police sergeant claimed he was denied effective legal representation in his 2012 trial. That issue was not brought up in court on Monday.

Peterson, now 70, was convicted of killing his third wife, Kathleen Savio in 2004.

He's also serving time for plotting a murder for hire from prison to kill Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow.

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He also remains the prime suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacey Peterson, who vanished in 2007. However, he's never been charged in that case.

His former attorney Brodsky was also in front of the judge for contempt of court charges on Monday.

Brodsky is accused of violating a gag order by discussing the case during a nationally televised interview.

He denied the allegations. The judge again reiterated not to talk about the case publicly.

Both cases will be back on court on Thursday at 9:30 a.m.

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