1st witnesses take stand at Peterson hearing

CHICAGO (AP) — The first witness at a hearing to decide if Drew Peterson deserves a retrial on grounds his then-lead attorney botched the trial was a disgruntled former partner of that attorney.

The unusual hearing Tuesday pits the ex-police officer's former lead attorney, Joel Brodsky, against his former co-counsel at the trial, Steve Greenberg. Greenberg still represents Peterson, and Brodsky stepped down from the legal team in November.

Greenberg and Peterson have feuded publicly since Peterson's conviction last year of murdering his third wife.

On Tuesday, Greenberg served as Peterson's lead attorney. He called Brodsky's onetime partner, Reem Odeh (OH'-day), as his first witness.

Greenberg asked her if Brodsky was primarily concerned about generating publicity for his practice after taking on Peterson's case. The judge wouldn't let her answer that directly.