Gee home to remain sealed; more discovery in Harris brothers case

[December 23, 2009]  Christopher Harris appeared in Logan County Circuit Court yesterday morning at 11:49.

Harris, along with his brother, Jason, is accused of the murders of five members of the Raymond Gee family of Beason, who were found dead in their home on Sept. 21.

The defense team for Harris as well as prosecutors from the Logan County state's attorney's office and Illinois attorney general's office agreed to a defense motion to continue the status hearing regarding consumptive DNA tests until Jan. 15. At this time an agreement on how those consumptive tests will be done has not been reached.

The prosecution noted that a defense request that the Gee home be protected as a crime scene until after defense experts have been able to examine the home has already been done. Doors have been locked, windows boarded over and the home has been winterized to prevent possible damage, according to Assistant Attorney General Michael Atteberry.

Judge Thomas Harris ruled for the record that the home remain "as is" until further stipulation by the court.

In another matter, an additional 650 pages of discovery along with more DVDs were turned over by the prosecution to the defense.

Jason Harris is expected in court Wednesday at 3 p.m. to have the same matters discussed.

The brothers are facing separate trials, requiring the status hearings to be separate.

[LDN]