Scott Peterson's Latest Trial

A pathologist has recently declared that Kathleen Savio, who died in 2004, was murdered. In the words of Dr. Larry Blum, "healthy 40-year-old women such as Kathleen Savio don't drown accidentally in bathtubs unless they're drunk, drugged or diseased, and Savio was none of those." The pathologist said that the bruises on Savio's shins, the wounds on her hand and buttocks and the laceration on her head were all fresh-occurring no more than 24 hours before her death.

Originally when Savio was found dead in her bathtub, it was rendered an 'accident.' Kathleen's husband, Scott Peterson, has been under examination for several years- first for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio then for the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson who disappeared in 2007. This case has been high-profile since Peterson was a former Bolingbrook, Illinois police sergeant.

Currently, a trial is underway to determine if Peterson is truly guilty. Peterson pled not guilty to killing Savio in 2004. When Stacy Peterson disappeared in 2007, Savio's body was reexamined which led to Scott Peterson's arrest. Between 2002 and 2004, it is reported that police were called out to the Peterson house 18 times due to domestic disturbance phone calls. The case was tied up in pre-trial motions and appeals since 2009.

Before jurors were picked for this high-profile case, the presiding judge cautioned, "This is not 'CSI.' This is not a John Grisham novel. It's not a movie you've seen in a theater or a show you've seen on TV." He cautioned the jurors to base their verdict on the law.

After a blunder by prosecutors, a judge is prepared to decide whether to cut short Peterson's trial by declaring a mistrial. While the attorney for the state apologized to the judge, the judge appeared unmoved- which could mean that Peterson could go free. Or the judge could declare a standard mistrial, which would mean that Peterson would be retried later.