Despite DNA ruling error, verdict holds

Trial Notebook

By Steven P. Garmisa

Hoey & Farina

Posted May 27, 2016 1:43 PM

During James Ealy’s trial on charges that he murdered Mary Hutchinson during an early morning robbery of a Burger King in far north-suburban Lindenhurst, prosecutors presented testimony that police officers asked 31 current and former employees to voluntarily submit to DNA testing — and Ealy was the only person who refused.This evidence was relevant, the state argued during Ealy’s appeal from a sentence of natural life in prison, because it allegedly showed consciousness of guilt.Disagreeing, the Illinois …

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