Pathologist Can Testify Against Peterson, Judge Rules

The judge presiding over Drew Peterson murder trial has dealt the defense team a setback.

Less than a week before jury selection begins, Will County Judge Stephen White ruled Friday that a pathologist who conducted an independent autopsy on Kathleen Savio can testify against Peterson.

Freelance Fox News producer Steph Watts assisted famous pathologist Michael Baden with the examination.  Baden conducted the autopsy at the request of Savio's family and the cable news channel's "On the Record with Greta van Susteren." 

Baden called Savio's death a homicide following that autopsy and is scheduled to testify at Peterson's murder trial later this month.

The defense had argued the producer's involvement in the autopsy tainted the procedure. 

Two other pathologists testified. One agreed with Baden and the other backed the original finding that Savio's death was accidental.

Savio's death was ruled an accident in 2004. But after Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, disappeared three years later, officials exhumed Savio's body and Baden was invited to perform the second autopsy.

Peterson, a former Bolingbrook police sergeant, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with Savio's death.