Peterson trial pushed back to May

After seemingly shutting the door last month on any more continuances in the Drew Peterson case, Randolph County Circuit Judge Richard A. Brown granted another one on Monday.

<span>The new dates are May 20 for jury selection and May 23 for proceedings to begin. The trial was previously scheduled to begin with jury selection on Feb. 26 and proceedings beginning the following Monday.</span>

<span>"Certainly, I can speak on behalf of the State of Illinois that this would be the last one," said Randolph County State's Attorney Jeremy Walker, who is co-prosecuting Peterson's murder-for-hire case with the Illinois Attorney General's office.</span>

<span>During last month's case management hearing, Brown denied a defense motion to continue the case - citing a special jury selection session that had been scheduled and advised defense attorney Lucas Liefer to set cases aside, if needed, to prepare for the trial.</span>

<span>Walker noted in Monday's case management conference that subsequent conversations between himself, Liefer and Brown required a continuance in the case as additional discovery has been tendered.</span>

<span>Brown did approve two stipulations Monday that were signed by Walker, Liefer and Peterson.</span>

<span>One waives Peterson's constitutional right to confront accusers regarding specific documents, and the second is a stipulation of evidence regarding the authenticity of the original maker of those documents.</span>

<span>It was stated during the hearing that those documents, which are under seal, deal with "Individual A" and Peterson.</span>

<span>"This specific stipulation has to deal with certain specific documents that would not be subject to cross-examination and tendered to the court," Walker said during media availability after the hearing.</span>

<span>Also announced Monday was that both sides have filed their witness lists, which will remain under seal, with the court.</span>

<span>During the January meeting, it was stated that Liefer's list contained at least 46 witnesses - lettered A through double-T - and Brown advised the Red Bud attorney to narrow that down.</span>

<span>"We're not going to hear from 10 people about the same issue," Brown told Liefer at the time.</span>

<span>Almost a year to the day after Peterson's initial court appearance on February 9, 2015, Walker was asked if this continuance is indeed the final one.</span>

<span>"I don't think either party wanted a continuance, but there's things that happen in this business," Walker said. "Nobody wants to get this trial over with more than Jeremy Walker."</span>

The next case management hearing for Peterson has been scheduled for Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. at Randolph County Courthouse.<span><br class="kix-line-break" /></span>