Gee family murders: Harris brother asks for February trial date, preservation of evidence

(Originally posted Monday afternoon)

[November 16, 2009]  Jason Harris and defense attorney Steve Skelton were back in Judge Thomas M. Harris' court on Monday.

Harris through his attorney filed two motions. One was to preserve evidence, which found no objection from the prosecution. Illinois law allows a defense to observe and document any evidence that could be destroyed during testing.

The other motion was to delay Jason Harris' trial to February 2010, which again was acceptable to the prosecution.

Judge Harris asked the defendant if he realized this delay in trial would start the clock over on his right to a speedy trial and the defendant said he understood.

The defendant, accompanied into the courtroom by two Logan County deputies, wore the clothes of a McLean County Jail inmate.

Logan County Sheriff Steve Nichols had previously stated that he would do what was necessary to keep defendants from coming into contact with each other, including using the McLean County Jail as needed.

Judge Harris asked the defense if they still wished a preliminary hearing to be held on Dec. 3 at 11 a.m., and Skelton said yes.

The judge also made it clear to both sides that in the future the court would require a seven-day notice of any further motions in court.

[LDN staff]