Drew Peterson hearsay hearings – day 4

Today’s proceedings begin with the cross-examination of Sharon Bychowski, neighbor and friend of Stacy Peterson and then moved on to Bruce Zidarich who was questioned about his plans to paint with Stacy the day she disappeared..

Rescueapet is attending the public hearing today and has shared with us some of her observations from this morning. Sorry they are mostly in note form:

• Drew Peterson is wearing a suit in court today. He stood and scanned the whole courtroom before taking a seat.
• George Lenard was doing the cross examination of Sharon. He asked her if she disliked Drew Peterson and the State objected. Sharon went on to say that she and Drew would speak and that she disliked what she believes he did to Stacy.
• Lenard asked her about an incidence of a group at her house playing loud music on an ipod, specifically the song “Bad Boys” outside her house. She answered that there was music being played and that was one of the songs among others, that it could be heard in the driveway and that Drew was standing at the end of the driveway.
• Sharon stated that she was very close to Stacy. Lenard asked if Stacy trusted her enough to talk to her about her menstrual cycle. Sharon asked what he meant and he said, “Did Stacy trust you?” Sharon replied that she assumed Stacy trusted her but that he was asking her to say what Stacy thought and that she couldn’t do that.
• She was asked if she had any contracts for books or any other sort of media contract and she replied that she did not. She stated that when Joe Hosey interviewed her and later used that interview in a book, she wasn’t aware that it would be used in that way. Also said that she has made no money.
• She was questioned about Avon a lot. Lenard seemed to be trying to show that Sharon’s interest in the case might be somehow tied to promoting Avon. He asked “Hasn’t this been good for Avon?” and Sharon stated “I never mention Avon.” Stacy did some Avon work for Sharon and they did contact her to make sure that Stacy had not been on an Avon errand at the time she went missing. Because of liability issues, perhaps?
• Sharon was questioned about the incident of Greta Van Susteren changing clothes in her bathroom. She was asked, “Did Greta being in your house make you feel special?” She replied that since this all began “nothing makes me feel special”.

Experts say Kathleen Savio investigation botched

Artist's rendition of retired Sgt. Parick Collins, ISP, on the stand

Experts: Police botched 1st Peterson investigation

By MICHAEL TARM and DON BABWIN
The Associated Press
Saturday, January 23, 2010; 1:57 PM

JOLIET, Ill. — From nearly the moment the lead investigator stepped into the suburban Chicago area home where former policeman Drew Peterson’s third wife was found dead in a dry bathtub, he treated her death as a tragic accident.

Illinois State Police Sgt. Patrick Collins collected no forensics evidence from the scene – not fingerprints, unfinished drinks or clothes. Most disturbingly, say experts, Collins let Peterson sit in on what may have been a vital interview.

Six years later, as prosecutors and defense attorneys prepare for Peterson’s trial on charges of murdering Kathleen Savio, one thing has become clear: Police blew the initial investigation, undermining prosecutors’ ability to prove their case.

“The incompetency that comes out is somewhat unbelievable,” said Richard Brzeczek, a former Chicago police superintendent who now works in private criminal defense. “It seems that, pretty fundamentally, what should have been done was not done.”