Portrait of Marni Yang within the library at Logan Correctional Heart on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 in Lincoln, Illinois. Yang is serving a double life sentence for the homicide of Rhoni Reuter and her unborn baby. Yang’s case is at the moment being appealed by protection lawyer Jed Stone. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
The identification of a newly disclosed witness within the Marni Yang case must be disclosed, a Lake County choose stated Wednesday in a ruling Yang’s lawyer described as a “minor setback.”
The witness, Yang lawyer Jed Stone stated in court docket filings, would testify that former Chicago Bear Shaun Gayle made incriminating statements in regards to the loss of life of his girlfriend, Rhoni Reuter, a number of hours after Reuter was fatally shot in her Deerfield apartment in 2007.
Marni Yang was convicted of murdering Reuter and her unborn baby, in what authorities stated was a criminal offense motivated by Yang’s jealousy of Reuter’s relationship with Gayle. Yang is searching for a listening to as a part of her try to get a brand new trial.
Stone disclosed in December that a new witness had been found who would testify that an agitated Gayle appeared at a North Chicago barbershop hours after the pregnant Reuter was shot, and instructed the proprietor, “I did it. She’s gone.”
Authorities stated within the weeks after the capturing that Gayle had been dominated out as a suspect.
The brand new witness has accomplished an affidavit that Stone has shared with Lake County prosecutors. Nonetheless, the lawyer had requested that the court docket both file the affidavit underneath seal or, alternately redact the witness’s title for privateness causes and the witness’ safety.
However Choose Christopher Stride dominated in opposition to the movement Wednesday. Case regulation, the choose stated, carried a presumption that court docket information stay public each time potential. Stone’s movement, the choose stated, didn't present a compelling sufficient authorized motive to seal the affidavit.
Stone stated he would file a movement to rethink, and stated he was discussing an choice with prosecutors to make the affidavit public, however redact the title.
At an internet information convention later Wednesday, Stone known as the ruling a minor setback, and stated it won't gradual momentum in his try to safe an evidentiary listening to for Yang.
“Once we get there, we predict the choose will discover that Marni Yang has confirmed her precise innocence and is entitled to a brand new trial,” Stone stated.
On the on-line information convention, Stone and his crew stated they'll quickly make public a video shot with Yang on the Logan Correctional Facility, the place she discusses the incriminating audio recording a buddy product of Yang whereas they have been consuming at a restaurant.
At her trial, prosecutors stated it proved Yang’s guilt. However her protection crew stated she made up the issues on the tape to attract police consideration away from her then teenage son as a possible suspect.