Jury selection was finished by yesterday morning in the ongoing murder trial of Jonathan Kelly. The afternoon brought opening statements and testimony that was often emotional.
State’s Attorney John Pepmeyer introduced his first witness as Vicki Howe, the mother of Jenni McGruder who was shot to death behind the Seminary Street Pub last April.
Howe fought through tears, as Pepmeyer asked about Jenni’s birthdate, health conditions and displayed a large photo of her for the jury to see.
Next came the first two Galesburg Police officers on scene, followed by other members of law enforcement.
Defense attorney Michael Bianucci seemed to emphasize the state’s need to prove intent under the first degree murder charges Kelly is facing, although under Illinois the state only has to prove that he knew his actions created a ”strong probability of death”.
Bianucci also questioned officers about the parking lot’s lighting, how chaotic the scene was and noted that several people giving testimony where at a tavern around 1:30 a.m.
Another point that the defense turned to more than once was that officers found three shell casings, which indicate an automatic weapon was used.
Bianucci also says a likely witness, Leonard McGee has indicated that he saw Kelly pull up in a white van, shoot six times and then drive away.
“I believe that opens up the possibility that there were two shooters because if Mr. Kelly runs away and is picked up by Leonard McGee, he can’t run away,” Bianucci says.
Quincy Morrison is the only witness so far in the trial that has said he knew Jonathan Kelly before the night of Jenni McGruder’s murder.
Morrison also testified he saw Kelly that night.
He says he was leaving the Seminary Street Pub that night, walking just ahead of Jenni and Michael McGruder, en route to his car parked in a lot behind the bar and a little to the north.
He noticed tires squeal, turned around and saw sparks fly and heard gun shots.
Morrison also said earlier that night he heard a group of outside the Pub fighting and heard someone say they were going to “get a gun and shoot up the place.”
He IDed Kelly in court and says he made eye contact with the defendant on the night of the occurence.
“I was yelling out that we was bogus, that what he did was foul and as he was running by he said I ‘better not say anything,” Morrison says.
As Morrison came down from the stand and crossed in front of where Kelly was seated, he stared down the defendant. Kelly’s gaze went unphased.
More testimony when court convenes Friday at 9a.m.
