Former Bolingbrook police officer Drew Peterson will face a final hearing Wednesday before jury selection begins for his trial for the murder of his third wife, Kathleen Savio.
Will County Judge Edward Burmila set jury selection to begin next week for the July 31 trial, after nearly two years of trial delays.
The most recent setback for the prosecution came earlier this month, when Judge Burmila rejected their request to bring the bathtub where Savio's was found drowned, allegedly, the "murder weapon," before jurors in the court room.
Lawyers are expected to discuss five or six motions during the final pre-trial hearing Wednesday, ABC Chicago reports. On Monday, jury selection will begin after months of evidentiary disputes from both sides in the case.
While Judge Burmila rejected prosecutors request to include the bathtub in the trial, Peterson chose not to appeal an appellate court's April decision on prosecutors' hearsay evidence -- statements reportedly made by Savio before her death. Essentially, Savio will be allowed to testify from beyond the grave in the trial.
Peterson has been in jail on $20 million bail for three years, since he was charged in the 2004 death of Savio.
In advance of the trial, defense lawyers launched PetersonDefense.com, dubbed "the public 'war room' for the Drew Peterson defense team" this week.
They to use the website to issue statements and press releases during the trial, WGN reports.