On Wednesday, a jury begins to deliberate the case of former police officer Drew Peterson, who is being accused of killing his third wife Kathleen Savio.
Judge Edward Burmila told the jurors, "The defendant is not required to prove his innocence," as reported by the Associated Press.
On Tuesday, after closing arguments Peterson's attorney Joel Brodsky told the Associated Press, "He's emotionally and mentally prepared for whatever happens."
The five week trial closed Tuesday, after facing three possible rulings of a mistrial due to lack of physical evidence and hearsay testimonies. In closing arguments, the defense reiterated its fundamental argument throughout the case, which was that prosecutors were basing their accusations on hearsay evidence. Defense attorney, Brodsky has constantly argued that prosecutors only possess hearsay evidence and lack any physical evidence to incriminate 58-year-old Peterson.
Peterson's lawyer told ABC's Good Morning America, "We have always said, and this has never changed: They simply don't have any evidence. They have conjecture, rumor, speculation, hearsay, but they don't have any evidence. Even a predisposition jury is going to want to hear evidence, and they don't have any."
Will County Deputy Coroner Matt VanOver, investigating officer, testified "There were no obvious signs of struggle or foul play in the bathtub. I don't know how else she could have drowned...If a person would have fallen in that bathtub; I'm of the opinion that those bottles around the edge of that bathtub would have gone flying... It's a fairly small tub, and if a person would have fell, it's unlikely they would have come to rest that way," as reported by the Chicago Tribune.
Savio, was discovered dead in her bathtub in 2004, to which Brodsky told jurors, "This was a household accident...Kathy slipped and fell in a household accident, case closed," according Huffington Post.
Prosecutors, however remain adamant that the 58-year-old had a hand in the death of his third wife and believe that the evidence provided in the court was sufficient to incriminate him.
But judge Burmila agreed that the evidence was more than hearsay, telling USA Today, "The court believes that the defendant's ability to receive a fair trial is not extinguished at this time."
Prosecutor James Glasgow insisted "The evidence shows this wasn't an accident," according to ABC News. Prosecutors presented a number of witness including Savio's sister & friends; Peterson's co-workers and ex-girlfriend- all who testified that Peterson expressed his desire to kill Savio. Prosecutors also presented to court a co-worker who claimed that Peterson said he would pay him to kill his wife, but defense knocked down the testimony when the witness admitted that the nature of conversation was likely a joke.
Peterson was a former sergeant in the Bolingbrook Police Department in Illinois. In 2007 he became the chief suspect for the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson. The Search for Stacy led the police to discover the body of Kathleen Savio, who was found in her dried bathtub in 2003. Peterson instantly became the prime suspect in her murder. Police believe that Peterson had something to do with the disappearance of his fourth wife as well, but has not been tried with Stacy's murder due to lack of evidence.
The Peterson mystery swept the nation, who were immediately hooked this real-life murder mystery. The media reveled in it, so much so that LifeTime TV made a movie based on the incident called "Untouchable" starring Robert Lowe.
Now the decision is left to a jury. According to the Associated Press, "The jury's task is not an easy one: there is no physical evidence and - for the first time in Illinois history - the prosecution has been allowed to rely heavily on hearsay to build their case."
If Peterson is found guilty he could face up to 60 years in prison.
