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| Sheley Trial 5pm Update: Just Says He's Seen Most "Gruesome" Photos He's Ever Seen |
FIRST REPORTED 5:30pm 8/29/11 Some disputed photographic evidence will be shown when a jury is seated in the Nicholas Sheley Knox County murder trial, while others will not.
Knox County Circuit Court Judge James Stewart Monday afternoon allowed a number of photos defense attorney Jeremy Karlin had a problem with. But what Stewart called some of the most gruesome photos he's ever seen will not be.
Stewart specifically pointed to some autopsy photos where forensic pathologist Doctor Violet Hnilica opened into 65-year old Ronald Randal's scalp following the late-June 2008 death, and even one where brains were exposed. Stewart says they were so gruesome that if they were allowed, a mistrial could occur. He said if even one juror vomited, or if one let out an audible gasp, that could mean a mistrial. In other words, the photos were prejudicial to Sheley and would not equal a fair trial.
Some other photos of an area behind the East Main Street Hy Vee store where Randall's body was allegedly dumped will be allowed, but others were disputed -- in many cases, Karlin and Stewart agreed that some multiple photos of the same scene either won't be allowed or just one will be shown, in order not to create prejudice.
The murder trial will resume Tuesday at 9am. Other issues will be taken up then, and then by 1:30 pm Tuesday, 20 of the 100 prospective jurors brought in Monday will be brought back to be interviewed based on what they filled out on questionnaires.
More new prospective jurors will come in as well for their questionnaires.
Sheley also faces 25 first degree murder charges for five deaths in Whiteside County allegedly committed prior to Randall's death, and is also accused of killing an Arkansas couple following Randall's death -- alll in late-June 2008.
(Nicholas Sheley is led out of the Knox County Courthouse in July, 2008. WGIL News File Photo.) |
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| 08 29 11 by Newsroom |
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