Court says Drew Peterson must stay in jail

CHICAGO, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Drew Peterson will remain in jail while prosecutors appeal a ruling on the use of evidence in the former police officer's murder trial, an Illinois court said.

The Illinois Supreme Court refused Monday to order Peterson's release from Will County Jail, where he has been held since 2009 on charges he drowned his third wife, Kathleen Savio, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Peterson's defense attorneys wanted him released on bond while the court makes a decision on an appeal by prosecutors.

Defense Attorney Joel Brodsky told the Sun-Times he hopes the refusal means the state Supreme Court will not hear the state's appeal of an Illinois appellate court ruling that limited the amount of hearsay evidence prosecutors can use in court when Peterson is tried in Savio's 2004 death.

The defense is eager for the case to go to trial, the report said.