Friday, August 31, 2012
Defense attorneys for two men accused of assaulting a women haven't said what the evidence is they've brought against prosecution's key witness.
Two men facing trial on hate crime and robbery charges will have to wait until next month to find out if a Cook County judge will allow a jury to hear evidence against the prosecution's key witness. Akram Alshoweat, 24, of Oak Lawn and Mohammed Shaban, 37, of Hickory Hills are accused of attacking and robbing a woman they believed to be a lesbian on June 28, 2010, outside a restaurant, police said. Attorneys said the two men have pleaded not guilty and claim they acted in self-defense. They rejected a plea deal in March. Gregg Smith, Shaban's attorney, told Patch on Friday, Aug. 31 that the defense has filed a motion to submit information and evidence to Judge Colleen Ann Hyland against the key witness, John Mitsis. "I don't want to go …
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
A Cook County judge granted more time for attorneys representing Mohammad Shaban of Hickory Hills and Akram Alshoweat of Oak Lawn to review charges leveled against a key witness in the prosecution's cases against them.
Attorneys for two men awaiting trial on hate crime and robbery charges asked a Cook County judge Tuesday for more time to gather information about a battery case against a key witness for the prosecution. Akram Alshoweat, 24, of Oak Lawn and Mohammed Shaban, 37, of Hickory Hills are accused of attacking and robbing a woman they believed to be a lesbian on June 28, 2010, outside a restaurant, police said. Attorneys said the two men have pleaded not guilty and claim they acted in self-defense. They rejected a plea deal in March. Patch is on Facebook, too. Like Oak Lawn and Palos. During Tuesday's hearing, attorneys Gregg Smith and Michael Monaco were set to file motions in Judge Colleen Ann Hyland's Bridgeview courtroom regarding felony …
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Also, Kustok pretrial investigations move from prosecutors to defense attorneys. Judge extends protection order filed against the vice president of the New Lenox District 122 Board of Education.
The Southland's major criminal and civil cases heard in Cook County and Will County courts this week. OAK LAWN — Oak Lawn Bank Robbery Suspect Charged in Federal Court Police said a man connected to Saturday's robbery of the Bank of America branch in Oak Lawn has been charged with one count of robbery. Bank employees say they heard what sounded like the robber talking to another person outside the bank on a cell phone. ORLAND PARK — Dennis Dodson’s ruddy hair and beard and neon-yellow jumpsuit provided the only color Tuesday in an otherwise quick and routine court appearance. Dodson was charged last year with the daylight kidnap and molestation of an 83-year-old woman behind the Orland Park Home Depot. He remained in jail on a $1.5 million…
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Last minute rules prohibit defense attorneys from prying into the victim's sexual orientation and showing her mixed martial arts DVD.
Any evidence concerning the fighting abilities or the actual sexual orientation of a woman who was allegedly beaten and robbed for being a lesbian has been barred from a hate crime trial that commences next week. Mohammed Shaban, 37, of Hickory Hills, and Akram Alshoweat, 25, of Oak Lawn, were arrested for yelling anti-gay slurs in Arabic while punching, kicking and whipping a woman outside a Hickory Hills restaurant in 2010, police said. Charges related to hate crime and robbery were filed shortly after the men turned themselves in. Establishing last minute boundaries on defense attorneys, Judge Colleen Ann Hyland ruled Monday that both the woman’s sexual orientation and Shaban’s clean criminal record were irrelevant topics for trial. …
Friday, January 27, 2012
Patch talked to a few Brother Rice students Thursday about a hate crime incident that happened over winter break, when three white teens threatened a black student's life.
After speaking with Brother Brother Rice High School officials about a hate crime incident involving two of their current students and one alumnus, Patch hit the streets to ask students their take on the situation. Chicago police recently charged three teens with perpetrating a hate crime on Dec. 23 in the 1600 block of South 100th Pl. A Brother Rice student, Joshua Merritt, 17, was the victim and one of the accused is a classmate. Merritt said Matthew Herrmann, 18, of Alsip and two other teens forced him to wear a noose and threatened his life, according to police. Brother Rice High School principal James Antos said "as of right now, the student is removed from school." Disciplinary action taken against the student "will be determined, …
Thursday, January 26, 2012
After a 17-year old black Brother Rice student was threatened with a noose by three teens, one of whom was a classmate, the school's President said it's using it to teach kids tolerance.
Brother Rice High School officials are continuing to investigate a hate crime incident involving two of their current students and one alumnus. Chicago police recently charged three teens with perpetrating a hate crime on Dec. 23 in the 1600 block of South 100th Pl. A Brother Rice student, Joshua Merritt, 17, was the victim and one of the accused is a classmate. Merritt said Matthew Herrmann, 18, of Alsip and two other teens forced him to wear a noose and threatened his life, according to police. Earlier today, Brother Rice High School principal James Antos responded to the incident "as of right now, the student is removed from school." Disciplinary action taken against the student "will be determined, given our school processes," …
Police charged three teens with perpetrating a hate crime in a Dec. 23 incident. A Brother Rice student was the victim and one of the accused was a classmate.
A senior at Brother Rice High School visiting a friend’s home late last year found himself in a life-threatening situation. According to Chicago Police, Joshua Merritt, 17, was the victim of a hate crime at about 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 23, 1600 block of W. 100th Pl. WGN-TV reported that this happened at the home of a Cook County State's Attorney's office employee. After investigating the matter for weeks, police arrested a young man and two juveniles. Police arrested Matthew Herrmann, 18, of Alsip and charged him with battery, felony unlawful restraint and felony hate crime. FOX Chicago News reported that the three suspects put a noose around Merritt’s neck twice, wouldn’t allow him to leave, and used the N-word several times as they threatened…
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Palos Hills man accused of stealing donation canister for cancer patient released from jail. Hate crime defendants set for trial next month.
The Southland's major criminal and civil cases heard in Cook County and Will County courts this week. NEW LENOX — After two and a half years, a New Lenox man accused of beating a Joliet man into a coma may be headed for trial. A judge is looking to conclude pretrial hearings in the case against Joseph P. Messina, accused of knocking a man unconscious outside 191 South in Mokena in 2009. Messina, who was celebrating his 21st birthday at the time, has been indicted on two counts of aggravated battery. As bar-goers were leaving 191 South the night of July 25, words were exchanged over a T-shirt. Shoving and punching followed, and Eric Bartels fell and hit his head on the pavement, according to police reports at the time. Several witnesses …
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Also, lesbian-beating case, accused cancer-donation thief and others return to court next week.
- POLICE & FIRE
- Jesse Marx
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Saturday, December 31, 2011
The Southland's major criminal and civil cases heard in Cook County and Will County courts this week. EVERGREEN PARK — Marcus A. Parker, a 23-year-old Evergreen Park resident charged with armed robbery on Chicago’s North Side, was arraigned Wednesday on a seven-count bill of indictment. Charges stem from an incident on Dec. 4 in which police said Parker and another man—Joel Shavers, 22, of Chicago—robbed a pedestrian in the 2900 block of North Mildred Street. At the time Parker was carrying a loaded handgun, according to police, as well as several items reported stolen in that area over the preceding days, including cell phones and credit cards. Both men remained in jail Wednesday on a $400,000 bail. They may enter a plea when they return…
Thursday, September 1, 2011
The next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6 for two men accused last summer of hate crime and robbery in Hickory Hills.
- POLICE & FIRE
- Jesse Marx
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Thursday, September 1, 2011
Attorneys for two men accused last summer of a hate crime and robbery have until Oct. 6 to settle the charges with prosecutors or begin trial. Hickory Hills police say Mohammad Shaban, of Hickory Hills, and Akram Alshoweat, of Oak Lawn, battered and robbed a woman they believed to be a lesbian on June 28, 2010, outside a restaurant. Last summer, a source close to the investigation said the woman lived in Palos Hills. In court on Thursday, a prosecutor told Cook County Judge Colleen Ann Hyland that the state was still waiting for the woman to tender copies of her medical bills incurred by the alleged attack. All other evidence, including DNA samples and a copy of the 911 call, has been exchanged between parties. Shaban has repeatedly …
Joe Wilson
6:17 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012
Any news on this case? more ›