Illinois Supreme Court Issues Revised Drew Petersen Opinion

In a case which was heavily saturated with publicity, former police officer Drew Petersen went on trial for the murder of his ex-wife. After being found guilty and having his conviction affirmed on direct appeal, the Illinois Supreme Court took the case and decided:

1. certain hearsay statements were properly admitted at trial under the forfeiture by wrongdoing doctrine,
2. Trial counsel was not ineffective for calling witness Harry Smith to the stand,
3. Smith’s testimony was not barred under the attorney-client privilege,
4. same counsel who was accused of ineffective assistance was not operating under a per se conflict of interest due to his media deal,
5. evidence of prior bad acts was improperly admitted at trial despite protestations regarding lack of notice, and
6. There was no cumulative errors that denied him a fair trial.

The case is People v. Drew Petersen

http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Opinions/SupremeCourt/2017/120331.pdf

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