After about two years in litigation, the jury trial of a Chicago man accused in the 2014 stabbing death of 49-year-old Melvin Buckner is expected to begin tomorrow.
That’s according to Knox County Judge Scott Shipplett, who says the final members of a jury should be selected tomorrow morning in time for opening statements to be made as early as 10:30 a.m.
Christopher Croom appeared in court today with his counsel, Chief Public Defender Dave Hansen and private attorney Chris Kanthak. Jury selection ran from 9 a.m. to after 5 p.m.
The 31-year-old suspect was indicted by a Knox County grand jury on multiple counts of murder and a single count of unlawful possession of weapons by a felon.
Illinois Assistant Attorney General Jonathan McKay is assisting State’s Attorney John Pepmeyer in prosecuting the case.
