Drew Peterson jokes at court appearance

JOLIET, Ill., May 8 (UPI) -- Drew Peterson, the former Illinois police officer suspected of killing two wives, made a brief court appearance Friday, joking with the news media.

Peterson's lawyer was not present and his arraignment on a charge of drowning his third wife, Kathleen Savio, in March 2004 was postponed until May 18, The Chicago Tribune reported. Peterson, who was arrested Thursday, was led into the Will County Courthouse in Joliet in a red prison jumpsuit and chains.

"Look at this bling. Look at this nice spiffy outfit," Peterson said. "Three squares a day."

Peterson is being held in lieu of $20 million bail although his lawyer reportedly plans to ask for a reduction.

Joel Brodsky, Peterson's lawyer, appeared on morning talk shows arguing the case against his client for Savio's death is weak, suggesting the first autopsy, which determined she drowned accidentally in a bathtub, was correct.

Brodsky told WGN-TV the bail amount is outrageous.

"Drew clearly isn't a flight risk," Brodsky said. "If he was going to run, he would have run a long time ago."

The investigation into Savio's death and the disappearance of Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy in October 2007, has been under way for more than a year.