Peterson trial postponed

JOLIET, Ill., July 7 (UPI) -- The trial of former Illinois police officer Drew Peterson on charges of killing his third wife was postponed Wednesday after prosecutors filed an appeal.

The Will County judge presiding over the trial Tuesday refused a prosecution request to permit certain hearsay statements previously barred in the case against Peterson, who is accused of killing his third wife, Kathleen Savio, the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald reports. Jury selection in the trial was to have begun Thursday.

State's Attorney James Glasgow said in a statement Wednesday he filed the appeal because he was "obligated to … ensure that every legally admissible statement may be presented at trial," the Chicago Tribune reported.

"The people of the state of Illinois are entitled to a fair trial, and I intend to see that they get one," Glasgow said.

Peterson's attorney, Joseph Lopez, said he will "be demanding the release of Drew Peterson" while the trial is delayed.

Joel Brodsky, the longest serving of Peterson's six attorneys, would not say whether Peterson, a former Bolingbrook, Ill., police officer, will testify at his trial. Peterson often spoke publicly when his fourth wife Stacy disappeared in 2007, but that stopped when he was jailed 14 months ago for the 2004 death of Savio, the (Joliet, Ill.) Herald-News reported Wednesday.