A judge has decided there will be no new trial for Drew Peterson. The sentencing phase has now begun.

During his sentencing, Peterson was given the chance to speak. He started of by saying, “Good day, my name is Drew Peterson, I hope I don’t aggravate the situation.” Then he screamed, “I did not kill Kathleen!”

A family member of Savio’s yelled back, “Yes you did!” The family member was removed from the courtroom by the judge.

Peterson then apologized to the judge by saying he must have been whoozy, he complained that the state police set him up. Judge Burmila warned him against any more outburst.

Earlier, Judge Burmila said, “In my opinion the defendant has failed to show Mr. Brodsky prevented him from receiving a fair trial.”

Peterson was convicted last fall of murdering Kathleen Savio.

But, his attorneys have been arguing he didn’t receive a fair trial.

They claimed lead attorney Joel Brodsky wasn’t ethical, and made a huge mistake by calling Harry Smith as a witness. Smith was Savio’s divorce attorney.

Some jurors said Smith’s testimony worked against Peterson, and helped them convict him.

Brodsky believes he’s being made a “scapegoat,” and insists he made an effective case.

Peterson is facing up to 60 years in prison.

Drew Peterson’s fate is in the hands of a judge.

The judge expected to rule tomorrow on Peterson’s bid for a retrial.

His new defense team spent two days painting Peterson’s ex-attorney Joel Brodsky as incompetent.

If Peterson is denied a new trial, he’ll be sentenced for the murder of his third wife Kathleen Savio.

He faces up to 60-years in prison.

It’s decision day for Drew Peterson.

He is expected to find out Wednesday if he will receive a new trial, or be sentenced to prison for murdering his third wife.

Peterson was convicted last fall of killing Kathleen Savio. But, his attorneys are arguing he didn’t receive a fair trial.

They are claiming lead attorney Joel Brodsky wasn’t ethical, and made a monster mistake by calling Harry Smith as a witness. Smith was Savio’s divorce attorney. Some jurors said Smith’s testimony worked against Peterson, and helped them convict him.

Retired judge Daniel Locallo took the stand on Wednesday on whether Peterson should get a new trial. He was expected to claim Brodsky did indeed make a serious blunder by calling Smith.

Peterson could be sentenced Wednesday if a new trial is denied. He is facing up to 60 years in prison.

WGN News Writer C. Hayes published this story

Day one of the Drew Peterson retrial hearing looked more like the trial of Joel Brodsky.

Peterson’s new defense is trying to get him a new trial after he was convicted last year of murdering his ex-wife Kathleen Savio.

The defense is arguing that Brodsky’s bad performance and lack of ethics cost Peterson his freedom.

They called Brodsky as a witness Tuesday, but he took the stand reluctantly.

Brodsky was expected to be asked why he had Peterson’s divorce attorney testify at his trial, but that issue never came up.

Instead he was asked about the fees he charged media outlets for coverage.

Brodsky said ABC paid $10,000 in licensing fees for photos and video, a publisher paid $5,900 for a book deal, and a TV-studio paid $15,000 for a movie.

The defense then argued that Brodsky operated under a conflict of interest because he hired a publicity agent.

“This is their post-trial motion,” Brodsky asked outside the Will County Courthouse.  “This is Drew’s last chance before going to prison for probably the rest of his life?  It’s not very impressive.”

On Wednesday, a retired Cook County judge is expected to testify that calling Peterson’s divorce attorney as a witness was the worst thing Brodsky did during the trial.

Harry Smith testified that Stacy Peterson told him that Drew Peterson was responsible for Savio’s death.

State’s Attorney James Glasgow called the testimony, “A gift from God.”

Several jurors also credited it for clinching the murder conviction.

Peterson now faces up to 60 years in prison.

His sentencing hearing could begin immediately, if he’s denied a new trial.

Drew Peterson’s appeal of his murder conviction puts his former lead lawyer on the stand.

Peterson’s new team attacked Joel Brodsky’s character, ethics and competence, arguing he botched the case.

Brodsky denies it all.

The hearing resumes tomorrow and if the judge doesn’t grant a new trial, Peterson will be sentenced for the killing of his third wife Kathleen Savio.

Drew Peterson is back in the courtroom today as his attorneys seek a new trial.

The first witness, Reem Odeh, was called to the stand by the defense this morning. Odeh is a criminal defense attorney who was once a partner with Joel Brodsky, and on the Peterson defense team.

Peterson was convicted in 2012 of the murder of his third wife Kathleen Savio.

His new defense team is requesting a new trial, on the grounds that his former attorney, Joel Brodsky, single-handedly botched their case.

Brodsky was one of several attorneys representing Peterson at his trial.

The other attorneys say it was Brodsky who had Peterson’s divorce attorney, Harry Smith, take the stand.

Several jurors said it was Smith’s testimony that clinched the guilty verdict.

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow called the testimony, “a gift from God.”

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to convince a judge that certain errors were made and give (Peterson) another chance at a different trial,” said Peterson’s attorney Joe Lopez.

Peterson, Brodsky, and Glasgow are all potential witnesses at the retrial hearing.

“It’s very difficult at any case to get a new trial.  They’re generally disfavored by judges and generally you don’t win them,” said Lopez.

Peterson is set to be sentenced February 20, if he is denied a new trial.

Drew Peterson will be back in a Will County courtroom tomorrow to try to get a new trial.

Last summer a jury in Joliet convicted Peterson of the 2004 murder of his third wife Kathleen Savio.

If Peterson’s request for a new trial is denied, he faces 20 to 60 years in prison during sentencing.