WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — The man accused of killing seven people in a 2022 Independence Day Parade in suburban Chicago He was denied his constitutional right to legal representation while being questioned by police hours after the shooting, defense attorneys argued in court Thursday.
Authorities have said Robert Crimo III confessed to the shooting that also left dozens injured. But his defense lawyers are trying to have recorded statements he made to police excluded from the trial, which is expected to begin in February.
The nearly three-hour hearing offered a glimpse of the evidence expected at trial, including police testimony, photographs and videos of statements Crimo made to police.
Crimo, 24, pleaded not guilty to all charges, including multiple counts of first-degree murder. He did not speak during Thursday’s hearing. Dressed in a dark blue prison jumpsuit, he entered the courtroom and showed the courtroom a two-fingered gesture that is often interpreted as a “victory” or “peace” sign.
Defense attorneys said Crimo’s relatives hired an attorney who was waiting in the police station lobby the night of the shooting, but police did not allow Crimo to meet with him.
“They never told him he had his lawyer, a lawyer hired for him,” public defender Greg Ticsay said in court. “It is clear that he was never given access. “They violated his rights to due process.”
But prosecutors strongly dismissed the allegations, saying Crimo willingly cooperated after being offered phone calls, notifying the attorney in the lobby and being read his Miranda rights several times.
“He knew why he was there. He knew what they were going to question him about,” said Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeff Facklam. “He knew what right he was giving up.”
Prosecutors showed video clips of the police interview. Crimo was asked several times if he understood his Miranda rights, which include the right to remain silent and have an attorney present.
“I can read them to you by heart,” Crimo said on the tape.
Lake County Circuit Court Judge Victoria Rossetti said she would issue a written ruling at a later date.
The case has moved slowly for months, in part due to Crimo’s unpredictable behavior.
He failed to appear for two previous court hearings and refused to leave his cell at the Lake County Jail. At a hearing in June where he was expected to accept a plea deal and give victims and family the opportunity to address him publicly, changed course and rejected the deal. he too fired his public defenders and said he would represent himself. Then he abruptly was reversed.
Dozens of people were injured in the shooting, including an 8-year-old boy who was left abandoned partially paralyzed. Witnesses described initial confusion when gunfire began, followed by panic as families fled the parade route through downtown Highland Park, an affluent suburb of about 30,000 people near Lake Michigan.
Those killed in the attack were Katherine Goldstein, 64; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolás Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; and Eduardo Uvaldo, 69; and couple Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35.