Results tagged “brownschickenmurders”

• A judge ruled today that Blago can appear on the reality TV show Celebrity Apprentice though are still concerns about how is appearance could affect his upcoming trial.
• The mother of James Degorski, recently convicted for the 1993 Brown's Chicken murders, testified on his behalf today during the penalty phase of his trial.
• Still no word on why a group of federal agents, led by the Chicago FBI office, raided an area goat meat plant.

James Degorski, who was found guilty yesterday on seven counts of murder for his part in the 1993 Brown Chicken's killings, has been ruled eligible for the death penalty by the same jury that convicted him. The next phase begins tomorrow; prosecutors will try to persuade the jury to sentence Degorski to the death penalty while the defense will argue for life in prison. [Sun-Times]

• Now at the top of the list for investigators in the Christopher Kelly case: cell phones.
• The IVI-IPO parking meter lawsuit is still churning along.
• Today at the Brown's Chicken murders trial, a Cook County Jail EMT testified that suspect James Degorski admitted the killings to her and claimed to have done it "just for fun."

• Anne Lockett, the ex-girlfriend of Brown's Chicken Massacre defendant James Degorski, testified against Degorski at his trial today.
• WBEZ takes a look at the case of Devon Young, a 25-year-old man shot and killed by police in June 2008, and the seeming lack of a police investigation into the shooting.
• The Trib talks to Patti Blagojevich.

With jury selection all wrapped up, opening arguments are set for today in the trial of James Degorski, the second man accused of murdering seven people at a Palatine Brown's Chicken restaurant in January 1993. The victims were Lynn and Richard Ehlenfeldt, owners of the restaurant, and five of their employees: Guadalupe Maldonado, Thomas Mennes, Marcus Nellsen, Rico Solis and Michael Castro. The victims' bodies were piled in a cooler and freezer while less than $2,000 was taken from the restaurant. The first suspect, Juan Luna, was tried in 2007 and found guilty on all seven counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison. While Luna confessed and even named Degorski in the confession, jurors won't be hearing that tape at trial. The big break in the case came in 2002 when Degorski's then girlfriend, Anne Lockett, finally gave in and told police Degorski had admitted committing the shootings to her. The Daily Herald has an extensive archive of stories on the murders.

There was a lot going on this weekend so we can understand if you didn't have a chance to peruse the site. And we're sure you're already cracking at work, so here are some helpful links from our weekend coverage that might help you catch up on what you missed.

After a little over a week, the jury for the second Brown's Chicken Murders trial - for suspect James Degorski - has been selected. The jury of six men and six women was finalized on Friday and four alternates were chosen yesterday to complete the process. According to the Sun-Times, the jury's racial make-up breaks down like so: "Nine of the jurors are white, two are African-American and one is Hispanic. The alternates are two black men, a Hispanic man and a white woman." Opening statements will begin as planned on August 31. In 2007, Juan Luna stood trial for the killings, resulting in a conviction on all seven counts of murder and a life sentence. The big break in the case came in 2002 when Degorski's then girlfriend, Anne Lockett, finally gave in and told police Degorski had admitted committing the shootings to her. The Daily Herald has an extensive archive of stories on the murders.

Over 15 years after the crime and 19 months after the conviction of Juan Luna, the first suspect, James Degorski, 35, will finally stand trial for the killings of seven people at a Brown's Chicken establishment in Palatine. Dergoski's trial will begin on April 30, 2009 per the orders of Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan. The primary issue in Degroski's case revolved around a videotaped confession he gave after the murders, a confession he also said he didn't want to make on camera. Judge Gaughan had originally ruled showing the tape at trial would violate Dergoski's Miranda rights, but an Illinois appellate court ruled the tape admissible earlier this year. Luna's conviction came in May 2007 and he was sentenced to life without parole for his role in the killings; Degroski could still face the death penalty if convicted. If you're looking for a good source of archived material on the case, we recommend the Daily Herald's site. [WBBM, S-T]