New law could affect Drew Peterson case

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is urging state legislators to approve a bill that would allow some hearsay evidence to be admissible in murder trials.

The measure, if approved, could have an effect on the prosecution of former Bolingbrook, Ill., police sergeant Drew Peterson in the disappearance of his wife, Stacy, and the death of his former wife, Kathleen Savio, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

Under Blagojevich's revision of the bill, presented as an amendatory veto of earlier legislation, hearsay evidence could be considered in first-degree murder cases if prosecutors could prove that a defendant killed a witness to prevent their testimony, the newspaper said.

The bill is scheduled to be taken up in the November veto session of the Illinois Legislature, the Tribune said.