Dec 17, 2007 9:10 am US/Pacific
Peterson Loses Bid To Retrieve Seized Possessions
JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Former police Sgt. Drew Peterson stands in front of the garage of his home in Bolingbrook, Ill., on Nov. 17, 2007.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Drew Peterson will have to do without his guns and cars a little while longer now that an Illinois judge has denied his request to have police return them.
Police seized 11 guns, two cars and other items from Peterson's home during their search for his wife, Stacy Peterson, who has been missing since Oct. 28.
A Will County, Ill., judge ruled Monday that police can keep those seized items as evidence, reported CBS station WBBM-TV in Chicago.
Peterson was not present for Monday's hearing, which was over in a matter of minutes. The ruling means Peterson won't be getting his guns or cars back anytime soon.
Peterson's attorney Joel Brodsky had sought to force the state to return Stacy Peterson's Pontiac Grand Prix and Drew Peterson's GMC Yukon Denali.
Brodsky also sought the return of 11 guns Drew Peterson owns, as well as some computers and a number of Stacy Peterson's personal effects.
He also submitted a letter requesting that a special prosecutor be appointed to investigate potential violations of state grand jury secrecy laws, stemming from alleged leaks to the media.
Brodsky claimed the leaks have tainted the potential jury pool for Peterson if he's ever charged in the death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, or the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson.
"The prejudicial reports are to such great extent and repeated on an almost daily basis, that he cannot receive a fair trial anywhere in the United States," Brodsky said.
Drew Peterson has been named a suspect in the disappearance of Stacy Peterson, but has not been named as a suspect in the death of Kathleen Savio.
"That's kind of putting the cart before the horse," said Will County prosecutor Charles Pelke. "There are no criminal charges in this case and at this point here it would be inappropriate to speculate on criminal charges or who would or would not get a criminal trial."
Brodsky said he does not expect Drew Peterson will ever be charged in either case. He also said he will return to court in about a month for another attempt to get his client's belongings returned to him.
One of Savio's sisters said Monday the family is considering a wrongful death suit against Drew Peterson.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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