David Steeves - Elgin 911 murder suspect convicted

From the Chicago Tribune--

Elgin 911 murder suspect convicted

By Rita Hoover
Special to the Tribune
Published April 29, 2006

A Rockford man was convicted Friday for his role in the robbery,
kidnapping and murder of an Elgin teenager who had made a frantic 911
call from the trunk of his mother's car before he was found slain last
year.

Robert Guyton, 24, was convicted on eight of 19 counts by Kane County
Judge Grant Wegner, who presided over a sometimes turbulent bench
trial. Wegner said evidence showed that Guyton participated in the
murder, but he also said prosecutors failed to prove he fired the shot
that killed David Steeves Jr., 19, in April 2005.

"Justice was done today," and the verdict will "help us continue with
our lives," said David Steeves Sr., the victim's father. His son
dialed 911 on his cell phone on the night of April 8, 2005, to report
he had been robbed and was in the trunk of his mother's car. When his
captors heard him phoning for help, they pulled over and shot him in
the face, according to testimony.

His body was found in the car's trunk nearly a week later in the
parking lot of a Rockford apartment complex.

Shamekin Higgs, a key witness at Guyton's trial, was jailed for two
days and threatened with contempt charges until he reluctantly
cooperated with prosecutors. Wegner said he viewed Higgs' testimony
"with great caution ... and the utmost scrutiny." But the judge said
the testimony, combined with his taped police interview, was credible.

Public Defender David Kliment, Guyton's defense lawyer, had argued
that Higgs killed Steeves.

Outside the courtroom, the victim's family and friends were subdued.
"He will be missed and he was truly loved," said Jason Murphy, 19, of
Elgin, who said he used to play baseball with Steeves. "It's hard to
believe. You could get killed for anything."

The sentencing phase of Guyton's trial is scheduled to begin Friday.

Armin Henderson, 26, also charged in the slaying, is in jail awaiting
trial.

Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0604290209apr29,1,474581.story?coll=chi-newslocal-hed

--
Anne, indigoace at goodsol period com
Jewelry: http://goodsol.typepad.com/pretty_good_jewelry/
Cats: http://www.goodsol.com/cats/
.

Relevant Pages