Will Peterson verdict bring closure to Savio family?

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What do you do regret.

Over the last four months troops.

Latin Geraldo Rivera -- my house.

If he doesn't like anything other than that more often often -- -- -- if there Gortari couldn't fit it fit and your academy.

And mr.

Peterson.

It sure because I spent.

I don't regret my goodness.

Except Tokyo which he get indicted that's sort of and I don't know why -- people in the media kit here at the put it on television I think that you're free.

-- for the first.

The trial was touching -- -- I worry that Drew Peterson wit charm his way to an acquittal but the jury in the case of is -- athletes have is murdered did something.

Many in the media were -- able to base all right through -- bull.

-- -- -- -- -- Seen here at the will county courthouse until -- Illinois much quieter no more jeers -- more cheering.

But to the family members -- Kathleen savvy it was her voice that spoke aloud as she spoke from the grave.

She came alive again.

She came back and said look this -- did it to me.

Never believing and kitty drowned after a fall in her -- march 2004.

Charlie -- watched as his frustrated mother and other relatives tried in vain.

To convince authorities to investigate.

Kathleen savvy as death -- after -- and -- -- will now that we know -- who was murdered.

Nobody wanted to listen.

Tragically it wasn't until -- highly publicized disappearance of drew his fourth wife Stacy Peterson three years after the fact.

But authorities began to listen.

In the beginning that we we said and then we showed you guys.

My mom had it she tried to show anybody and everybody and nobody wanted to see -- do you think that she knew what was coming that she knew that.

Her life was at risk most definitely she she said it.

And many many many times to many many many people she she knew she didn't know when where or how but she knew.

It was that dark secrets that Stacy Peterson -- that became the final undoing of the cocky former cop.

Nearly a decade after Kathleen savvy -- them.

Murder it's horrible that it took someone you know going missing no matter what the circumstance or my -- to get the justice that she deserved and could have been prevented if people had listened to what she was trying to tell them.

-- hearsay testimony from and Stacy and drew though was.

Because -- -- as part.

According to jurors like 22 year old Eduardo -- -- words Stacy shared in confidence with her pastor Neil schori.

And attorney Harry Smith -- she plotted to get away from drew became the linchpin of the trial.

You sure you kind of opened things up plus the lawyers.

This morning with some -- the guns -- said he killed.

Kathleen I was really blown away.

That was a real and inside the biggest issue that stuck in my mind that day was heard discussing.

What advantages to -- -- in the divorce from telling the police how.

Drew had killed get to Peterson.

A blundering attempt to portray Stacy Peterson's breed -- defense allowed testimony from her divorce lawyer.

A witness prosecutors could not call due to confidentiality.

Laws the ploy backfired the defense attorney try to exploit that.

Tried to destroy the character.

Of Stacy Peterson the fact that she was trying to take advantage of her knowledge get more money out of -- How do you feel about that.

I think it kind of turned around to bite him in the blood really because.

It just brought -- the fact even more -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- let's put aside that hoping with that a divorce lawyer Harry Smith I guess is name.

I think -- does it mean handled that one well -- wanna ask you we started on this case at the very beginning we watched it develop.

What how big a role.

Did they shot the initial investigation how much of that was related to the fact that Drew Peterson was a cop and connected in that -- -- -- it.

Well I think the family.

Firmly believes that is because drew Pearson of the cop -- a copy the in your face former police sergeant of the bowling brook.

PPI.

That he -- the fact he's a cop to sit in as Stacy Peterson was questioned in.

The death of Kathleen savvy you know he use the fact there was a copy that they believe that a car is not even investigate Catholic and have your staff.

As a homicide despite their protests Haitians back in 2004.

So he -- stick.

He bullied his way any schmooze his Laney used his connections so they didn't really look at him very close very frustrating to the family and this sorry that Stacy Peterson had to die before justice.

-- -- -- Greg thanks.

What is now the woman drew hates as much as he hates me.

Is neighbor and friend of Stacy is that fourth wife this is Sharon McAllister hi Sharon.

Hi Geraldo it's awfully nice to see you under these circumstances I'm -- I am so relieved I jumped up and down when the verdict came -- He Drew Peterson really tell you that he hated you as much to me it's me.

That's the rumor I have from drew and many other people around -- so and that's okay and your reaction right now.

I am very very pleased that justice would serve for the savvy -- family.

And that state -- words.

Got to be that that true force behind a case.

She would be very proud to.

-- something we have no -- she's dead unfortunately Steven Wyatt was the judge in the -- -- murder trial until he retired that's him on the left.

On your right the famed forensic pathologist doctor Michael -- that this case has a hero it's -- the body he did the second autopsy.

On Kathleen and he saw immediately that she had been murdered gentlemen welcome -- judge for -- -- -- you retard halfway through the year grip that.

Why I did want to finish -- I you know I started with all the hearsay -- -- -- doctor Baden testified job before me at that particular hearing.

And I but I did wanted to finish what I started that I -- announced you know -- early.

Earlier that I was going to retire much you send your notices you can't Paula backs all right so what about.

Hearsay stuff are you worried because he was convicted largely.

On this hearsay evidence and on so called -- law kept -- law.

Be hearsay law passed by the state of Illinois do you worry that an appellate court will reverse this conviction.

No I do not and I say that because one -- law basically is not an existence anymore because that at the time I ruled.

-- law was a valid law and I ruled under that law.

After that the Illinois Supreme Court adopted the common law forfeiture by wrongdoing imported into the rules of the court.

Basically saying if the rules of the court conflict with the statute the rules apply.

So when the trial was had.

The forfeiture by wrongdoing was now common law -- procedure.

That was there and -- -- had absolutely nothing to do in this trial so essentially the common law says.

You can't kill your parents and -- yourself on the mercy of the court because you're an orphan.

While in the fourth driver always has it been like in this case you cannot kill someone who may testify against you.

And it doesn't even have to be in this proceeding can be in any proceeding.

And then come into court and have -- because of the hearsay.

That you cannot you know you can't you can't create -- fact that deaths a year they by killing the witness against -- that's for a doctor -- any doubts whatsoever.

That this was murder when you and that corpse was a -- zoomed.

-- that there were no -- it's really after seeing the autopsy from 2004.

By doctor Mitchell's in this.

Problem with the -- -- system there.

Was that even though Mitchell -- Bleeding from the head in the laceration is no bleeding and accidental drowning.

You -- you don't believe.

Bleeding from the head from his scalp injury he describes it like a dozen different bruises on the front back side of the body which week it confirmed.

-- you mean the -- -- three years later.

And that this can only occur.

By homicide not by accident in a BF -- at a home.

Would Drew Peterson had beaten this case then if this body had been cremated instead of buried.

He he might have limited the forensic pathologist.

-- it says what happened to the body that it was murder.

Other information has come forth as to -- done it.

And I think that if the body had been cremated.

It's very likely that -- you have further investigation would not have been done three years later.

When you testified they made much of the immediate connection and all the rest of that.

Do you think -- Drew Peterson got a fair shake here this despicable man.

Well I think he had the he is certainly he had a good.

Trial he had a good -- lots a representation.

And I think it turned out that he turned blew up people because -- is.

Attitude and I think the evidence they had very good forensic pathologist on the defense side.

Who says this is an accident but the jury for the jurors have said.

If they knew right away they agreed that it was a homicide.

Based on all the evidence and was whodunit that took him longer -- you live next door to to drew Peterson's home.

I believe.

You know his son -- the adult son.

Has been caring for the four children including -- -- the -- Stacy children.

What happens to those four little children.

Well they will live with Steve now I think probably for our.

Forever and out it seems to be working out pretty well these children look pretty happy.

They have really begun to move -- with their life and -- -- such as sad and tragic tragic thing.

For all four kids and even Stephen Eric the other two older ones it's -- it's not a good thing for any family when your -- -- is a murder.

Did the defense lose this case it did the prosecution went and I love the DA dismay at a news on jeez I just named ship which was.

Well I think it's a pretty universal opinion that when the defense put Harry Smith on the divorce lawyer who has reported divorces there -- was gonna say that drew told me killed -- There was no evidence that Drew Peterson was in the house.

That's the evidence that -- -- in the house take a look at one -- I don't -- the and the popular opinion for those who viewed the trial.

Was that they didn't think they could ever get twelve jurors to finding not guilty.

So do the job -- the defense could hope for would be a hung jury but as soon as Harry Smith came in the -- took a huge -- And that it's kinda ironic that and then went back testimony it's ironic is that the -- asked to keep been asked to keep it out tried to keep it out.

The judge then suddenly -- you can come in but the whole statement comes in.

After game -- state asked to have -- all stricken the judge did not get it all stayed and then.

The jury jurors a big role in I did that was that I judge Stephen -- enjoy your retirement and they are private practice or you're not really retired.

Chaired by Jesse congratulations fuel that there is all the good folks over there appreciate that and I divide again Wheldon and narrow -- -- -- the --

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Will Peterson verdict bring closure to Savio family?

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