Lawyer charges Peterson misrepresented

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JOLIET, Ill., Oct. 10 (UPI) -- An outside attorney filed a brief on Drew Peterson's behalf, saying the convicted Illinois killer did not have adequate legal representation.

John Paul Carroll filed a brief in Will County Tuesday, charging Peterson did not have sufficient help from legal counsel in the murder trial of Kathleen Savio, Peterson's third wife. A jury convicted Peterson, a former suburban Chicago police sergeant, of killing Savio -- an investigation reopened after Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, disappeared.

Carroll said Peterson's brother asked him to meet with the defendant, who has vowed to appeal his conviction. A judge granted the meeting at which time the two discussed appealing on grounds his defense lawyer, Joel Brodsky, was a flop, the Southtown Star reported.

"How can Mr. Peterson advance this theory that he had ineffective assistance of counsel and have Mr. Brodsky present that argument?" Carroll asked. "You have to have somebody not involved in the case."

Brodsky denied Carroll has a right to work on Peterson's behalf.

"I spoke to Drew [Tuesday]. Drew reiterated to me that this is absolutely unauthorized. [Carroll] has no authority to file it," Brodsky said. "He is boggled. That's Drew's word, 'boggled' as to how he did this."

A hearing has been scheduled Friday for Carroll's motion.