Drew Peterson murder trial theatrics continue | Kathleen Savio - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

A witness at Drew Peterson's murder trial testified that Kathleen Savio showed up with red marks on her neck, fearing for her life, at a nursing class in 2003.

Peterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering of Savio, 40, who was his third wife, in 2004. Savio's death was initially ruled an accident, but was declared a murder after Peterson's fourth wife, Stacy, vanished in 2007.

The nursing classmate, Mary Parks, testified that Savio told her Peterson had grabbed her by the neck, pinned her down and said, "`Why don't you just die?"'

Parks said Savio told her Peterson wanted all her money, her kids, and her business. Parks said she did not go to Savio's funeral because she did not want to face Peterson.

Parks' testimony was another example of the prosecutors' reliance on hearsay because there is no physical evidence linking Peterson to the crime. Savio was found in a dry bathtub and investigators initially said she drowned. By the time her body was exhumed years later, any possibility of physical evidence was lost. Hearsay is normally barred but a recent Illinois law allows it in these circumstances.

PETERSON'S SON VISITS

Drew Peterson and Kathleen Savio's son Kris Peterson, who just turned 18, came to court on Thursday. Drew wished him happy birthday and encouraged him to leave before they showed photographs of his mother's body. Kris Peterson would have had to have left regardless, since he is on the witness list.

"He was told not to touch his father, not to reach over the thing and hug him or anything like that," said courtroom sketch artist Tom Gianni, who was sitting nearby. "They started having a little small talk. Drew said, 'Oh, by the way, Happy birthday, son.'"

Kris Peterson is expected to try to remove his name from the wrongful death lawsuit filed on his behalf by Savio's family against Drew Peterson.

As Kris Peterson left, Drew thanked the sheriff's deputies for letting them talk and seemed in better spirits afterwards. After court was adjourned for the day, Peterson's attorneys said father and son often talk on the phone, but this was the first time in over three years they had seen each other in person.

"They miss each other very very much, and he expressed that he can't wait for his dad to come home," said defense attorney Joel Brodsky.

MORE HEARSAY WITNESSES

Parks' testimony meshes with the testimony of Kristen Anderson, who broke down crying on Wednesday as she said that Peterson broke into Savio's house and threatened to kill her. Anderson also said Savio slept with a knife under her mattress for protection.

Savio's family, as well as the family of Peterson's 23-year-old fourth wife Stacy, said the testimony was critical.

"This is the second or third person saying ‘I can kill you and make it look like a complete accident,'" Savio's half-brother Nicholas Savio said. "That's not a coincidence."

"No matter what punches the defense pulled on this woman they couldn't get her, she didn't waiver," family representative Pam Bosco said. "I mean, you could tell she was honest."

Peterson's defense team maintains Savio's death was nothing but a tragic accident.

JUDGE DEADPAN ABOUT ABRAHAM LINCOLN LINK

Abraham Lincoln also made cameo appearance at the Peterson trial in its sixth day of testimony Thursday.

As proceedings began Thursday, the judge announced in court that he's received a letter from an inmate in Illinois who claims to have information about a link between the former police officer's murder trial and the 16th president's assassination.

Judge Edward Burmila said the unnamed inmate wrote that the judge should communicate with him if he wants more details. The judge prompted laughter as he deadpanned, "I won't be communicating with him."