Drew Peterson's trial postponed

JOLIET, Ill., July 14 (UPI) -- An Illinois judge agreed Tuesday to postpone the trial of former police officer Drew Peterson on charges of killing his third wife.

Lawyers Joel Brodsky and Andrew Abood said they will also ask for a change of venue, arguing Peterson cannot receive a fair trial in Will County because of the intense publicity in the Chicago area, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. The lawyers asked for a postponement of the Aug. 24 trial date, saying they have to digest 40,000 pages of reports on the case.

No new date was set.

Peterson, formerly a police officer in Bolingbrook, Ill., is accused of drowning Kathleen Savio. He is also suspected of killing his fourth wife, Stacy, who disappeared in late 2007.

The lawyers also plan to challenge a new law, adopted with the Peterson case in mind, that allows prosecutors to use hearsay evidence in some circumstances, The Daily Herald of Arlington Heights (Ill.) said. Savio allegedly told relatives before her death that Peterson had threatened to kill her.

Brodsky said the case could end up in the U.S. Supreme Court. If Circuit Judge Stephen White agrees with the defense, the trial could be delayed for a long time, Brodsky said.