A sister of Drew Peterson's third wife described to jurors how he once put a knife to her sister's throat and said he could make her murder look like an accident.
The 58-year-old former Illinois police officer has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the 2004 death of Kathleen Savio. Savio's sister, Susan Doman, told jurors on Friday that Savio was "terrified" at the alleged threat.
Doman also described how Peterson taunted her after Savio's death about finding Savio's will. She said he told her the document didn't leave anything to another of her sisters, Anna.
Doman testified that Peterson said, "Ha! Ha! I found the will between the floorboards and tell your sister, Anna, she's not getting anything."
The defense team attacked Doman's credibility and got her to acknowledge that she had significant financial interest in the case via a book and movie deal.
Peterson has denied any wrongdoing.
Savio's Boyfriend Recalls No Bruises Prior to Death
A man who dated Savio told jurors he saw no bruises on her naked body days before she died — potentially key testimony meant to support the state's claim she was attacked before her death.
Steve Maniaci's testimony came as prosecutors tried to back up their theory that bruises on Savio's body, including one on her buttocks, were the result of an attack and not a fall in her bathroom. But defense attorneys, who have called Savio's death a tragic accident, offered other explanations for the marks.
A sometimes ill-at-ease Maniaci, 52, was asked extensively about his sexual relations with Savio, telling jurors that explained how he knew there were no noticeable marks on her body only three days before the 40-year-old was found dead on March 1, 2004.
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But during cross-examination, the defense sought to suggest the bruises may have been caused by the sex Maniaci and Savio had several days earlier. At one point, Maniaci had to indicate with a laser pointer where on the floor in Savio's suburban Chicago home they had sex.
Defense attorney Joe Lopez also asked Maniaci if Savio bruised easily.
"She used to tell me that," he conceded.
Maniaci also told jurors he spoke to Drew Peterson outside Savio's house about an hour after her body was found inside. Someone had called Maniaci to break the news, and he had rushed to her home.
"I went up and asked him, 'What the hell happened?'" Maniaci said. "He said he didn't know."
But Maniaci conveyed to jurors that he had his suspicions and he expressed them to Peterson.
"I sure hope you didn't have anything to do with this," Maniaci recalled telling Peterson as they stood under a lamppost outside Savio's house, with other police and onlookers gathered nearby. "He said he didn't."
Maniaci began dating Savio seriously in 2002, while she and Peterson were getting a divorce. They were legally divorced when she died but their financial settlement hadn't been finalized.
Maniaci said he noted that fact as he spoke to Peterson that night.
"I said, 'This sure worked out well for you,'" he recalled. "He said, 'She would have lost anyway.'"
Savio's death was reclassified as a homicide only after Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, vanished three years later. Peterson is a suspect in her disappearance but hasn't been charged.
- Day 1: Peterson Trial Begins with Different Explanations of Savio's Death
- Day 2: Judge Could Declare Mistrial in Peterson Case
- Day 3: Judge Denies Motion for Mistrial in Peterson Case
- Day 4: Savio's Sister Testifies
- Day 5: Colleague: Drew Peterson Said Life Would be Better if Savio Were Dead
- Day 6: Savio Slept With Knife Under the Bed
- Day 7: Drew Peterson Gets Brief Vist from Son, Now 18
- Day 7: Friend: Ex-Wife Said Peterson Grabbed Her by Neck
- Day 8: Key Witness Concedes Movie Deal
NBC Chicago has reporters in the Will County Courthouse for the trial. During proceedings, follow along with our Drew Peterson Trial Live Blog or follow gmarshall_jr on Twitter.
