Jonathan I. Kelly, 28, Selden Street, made his first in-person court appearance Monday morning for a pretrial hearing before Circuit Judge Scott Shipplett in the Knox County Circuit Courthouse. Kelly is charged with three counts of first-degree murder as well as firearm offenses for his suspected role in the April 1 shooting death of Jenni McGruder, 26, in a downtown parking lot behind South Seminary Street. [STEVE DAVIS/The Register-Mail]
A Knox County Circuit Court judge has made it clear he wants to see a trial happen in October in the case of a Galesburg man who shot and killed a woman during a disturbance early Easter Sunday morning.
Judge Scott Shipplett granted a continuance Monday in the case of 28-year-old Jonathan Kelly – facing First-Degree Murder and weapons charges for the death of 26-year-old Jenni McGruder.
But Shiplett told defense attorney Michael Bianucci of Chicago he wants to see the case go to trial during the court’s mid-October calendar.
Bianucci says he’s received a lot of discovery – or, evidence – in the case from Knox County prosecutors, and he’s expecting to receive more soon.
Knox County Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Kerr, meanwhile, told the judge he sees no reason why he wouldn’t be ready for trial in two months.
Kelly allegedly fired a gun outside Seminary Street Pub April first during what police said was a fight. A bullet killed McGruder, reported to be an innocent bystander.
Kelly remains held without bond in the Knox County Jail, and will be back in court for another pre-trial hearing September 26. He was arrested in June in South Dakota and extradited back to Knox County.
(Pool photo)
