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Sheley's Second Trial Likely To Stay Put
Accused spree killer Nicholas Sheley's second murder trial won't move out of county either.

The "Sterling Daily Gazette" reports 14th Circuit Chief Judge Jeffrey O'Connor implied that Thursday, when he denied a motion filed by defense attorney Jeremy Karlin to provide funding for a phone poll of prospective jurors in Whiteside County.

The use of such a poll, which was granted in Sheley's Knox County trial, typically determines how much jurors may know about a particular case. That can then be used to determine if a fair and impartial jury can be found.

The paper says Karlin told the judge he couldn't think of a more prejudicial area than Whiteside County.

O'Connor said he won't presume that jurors would lie to sit on a jury, but that if it become impossible to pick a jury in Whiteside County, he'll move the trial.

The Gazette says Karlin still intends on filing a formal motion to change the trial's venue.

A new trial date has been set for March 5th. Sheley's accused of killing five people in the Sterling and Rock Falls areas in late-June of 2008, but will be tried first for the death of 93-year old Russell Reed of Sterling.

Sheley was convicted in Knox County back in September of the death of 65-year old Ronald Randall.
11 04 11 by Newsroom
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