Update: 12:45
The jury has reached a verdict. Just waiting on Judge Brown to return to the courtroom.

And the Verdict is…GUILTY on both counts of solicitation of murder and solicitation of murder for hire.

One count carries a mandatory sentence of at least 20 years. The other at least 15 so he’ll get an addition 35 years minimum.

Sentencing will take place July 26.

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Today is the last day of Peterson’s trial for allegedly attempting to hire a hit man to kill Illinois State’s Attorney, James Glasgow, while incarcerated at Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Illinois.

This morning the prosecution has presented their argument to the jury and now it is the turn of the defense.

Have you taken a look yet at the complete transcripts of the conversations between Drew Peterson and fellow inmate Antonio “Beast” Smith recorded secretly between Nov. 13-29, 2014?

I will update this blog post throughout the morning with information gathered via Twitter and various other sources. To see the latest updates, refresh your page often.

Please check out the links to these hard working journalists at the bottom of this page.

10:40

10:43 a.m. Back in session. Defense attorney Lucas Liefer up next.

Liefer: “It would have been nice to be prosecutors in this case.”

Liefer begins argument by fantasizing that he would be Randolph County State’s Attorney if Jeremy Walker weren’t around

Liefer: “State is basing their case on the word ‘gone’ and nothing more. The only thing I’m missing is a lying snitch.”

Liefer using the same words as Peterson, but applying them to SA Jeremy Walker.

Liefer: Prosecution’s recordings “prove absolutely nothing.”

Liefer: James Glasgow’s testimony was “designed to get you to hate #DrewPeterson”

Liefer: “They don’t have any other evidence in this case.”

“The state has muddied the water so much in this case to distract you.” – Liefer to jury.

“What are we left with? The recordings of a snitch. A career snitch who wanted to be an informant with the FBI.” – Liefer.

Liefer pointing to James Glasgow’s signature to get an overhear order in Randolph County.

Liefer refers to Antonio Smith as prosecutors’ “trust snitch.”

Liefer talking about letters Smith sent to Gabriel and how Smith was told by FBI to keep his mouth shut.

LIefer: Smith handed recording device to another inmate while on the yard.

Liefer says it all compromised the investigation.

Liefer quoting Smith talking about Will County: “I lied to them bitches.”

defense focuses heavily on discrediting prosecution’s key witness: Antonio Smith. Calls him to a “career snitch.”

defense say “inaudible” and “incomprehensible” recordings prove nothing

Liefer plays audio of Smith promising prosecutors “I’ll get you your conviction. I’ll drag him to the courthouse myself.”

Liefer playing recorded conversation between Smith and IA.

Liefer: Smith had “golden plan” to get #DrewPeterson and make everyone look good, and “old Beast would get another chance at life.”

Liefer quoting Smith: “Once I tell you my plan, it’s golden.” Liefer: “This was his plan, he was running the show.”

Liefer says Smith wrote letters to Will County in Aug. 2014 because he was also snitching on correctional officers.

Liefer: Smith was a “rat caught in a trap.”

Defense on Antonio Smith: If he was really worried about Peterson killing Glasgow, why did he wait months and months to tell authorities?

Liefer points to “proof positive” that Antonio Smith was lying.

Liefer: Smith said Drew confessed to Stacy death. But “twice in the recorded conversations, #DrewPeterson says she’s still alive.”

“Not a single state witness had much of anything to add to the evidence of this case.” – Liefer

State relying on word of “a lying snitch, who is so unreliable that it’s embarrassing that the state paid him money,” Liefer said

defense calls murder for hire “a crime of words,” yet Peterson never said murder or kill in recordings

“How has state met their burden of proof on solicit. of murder the when the key words of ‘murder’ and ‘kill’ are not spoken by the def.?”

Liefer: “This is how these guys cope. This is how inmates stay sane. They talk. And it’s nonsense.”

Liefer: #DrewPeterson spent more time “talking about ripping Nancy Grace” and running drugs than killing Jim Glasgow

Liefer asks if the state believed Drew Peterson about anything, why hadn’t they charged him regarding the drug trafficking plan.

“Who has the motive and intent in this case? Everything (the state) has presented is questionable.”

#DrewPeterson defense: “This case is rotten with inconsistencies…the case revolves around the recordings and nothing else.”

Liefer again tells jury that #DrewPeterson “still sits there an innocent man.”

Liefer said state cannot point to one instance on recordings where #DrewPeterson asked Smith to “murder” or “kill” Glasgow.

Liefer: “This case is wrought with inconsistencies and incomplete evidence.”

“This entire case revolves around the recordings and nothing else.”

Liefer: “I want you to forget the name #DrewPeterson and everything that goes with it.”

“I am doing this because I believe in the law and care in the law.” – Liefer

Liefer closes with “enter a verdict of not guilty on both counts”

Liefer done.

11:06

Jeremy Walker up for rebuttal.

Walker: “Lucas and I are friends.” They go out to dinner and plan to get drinks tonight.

Walker shouts about claims Liefer made in closings. Then says, that’s what defense attorneys do. “I’m still gonna go have a drink with him.”

“I didn’t put him away in prison for 38 years!!! And as mad as I am right now, I’m still gonna go have a drink with him….

“For him to accuse me that I would charge him, accuse me of being under-the-table, that’s what defense attorneys do.”

Walker’s point: Liefer isn’t in prison for murder, and he doesn’t have another murder case pending against him.

Walker on Smith: “The Pope can’t buy dope. The Pope isn’t going to be contracted to kill somebody.”

Walker: #DrewPeterson had four motives: Pension, appeal, Stacy, his son.

Walker: “that man (Drew Peterson) wants James Glasgow dead”

Walker on Smith: “When did he ever get caught lying? Not one single time.”

Walker: “Snitch does not mean liar.”

Walker: Smith “crossed one of the biggest lines … He wore a wire on a fellow inmate in a maximum security facility.”

“My desk is piling up. I’ve got another jury trial in two weeks on burglary. I care more about that than that man (Peterson) right there.”

Walker: #DrewPeterson got quiet on recordings when talking about Glasgow murder. “What happens when your kids get quiet?”

“Yeah, Antonio’s asked for a time cut, but he earned his trust by asking what he could prove to you.”

Walker brings up media question regarding why Peterson was suspicious of staged photo if he wasn’t involved.

Walker: Best line of #DrewPeterson trial came when Liefer asked Smith if you can believe a snitch. “You can with evidence,” Smith said.

On Antonio Smith: “People deserve the benefit of the doubt when they can back up what they are saying.”

Walker: Smith will have to sleep with “one eye open.”

Walker: “A prosecutor deserves to go home at night and not worry about getting shot in the head because I did my job.”

Walker then finishes closing by pointing at #DrewPeterson “Find this man guilty.”

Walker is done. Jury getting instructions now.

11:35 a.m. jury is now deliberating

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