Triple murder suspect wants judge, not a jury, to decide case

Posted on December 26, 2018

Triple murder suspect Sydney Mays of Bloomington decided Wednesday he wants a judge instead of a jury to decide his case. (Bloomington Police Department)

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A man accused of shooting to death three men and critically wounding a child six months ago at an east side Bloomington apartment building wants his case tried by a judge instead of jury.

Sydney Mays, 22, of Bloomington waived his right to a jury trial during an appearance Wednesday in McLean County Court.

Judge Casey Costigan will decide whether Mays is guilty of killing Juan Perez-Mercedo, Corey Jackson, and Nathaniel Pena in an apartment at 311 Riley Drive on June 18. Pena’s son, 4, was gravely injured in the shooting.

Mays plans to represent himself at his trial, which is scheduled to begin January 14, and may last one-to-two weeks. A public defender will be in the courtroom to advise Mays on legal issues, but he’ll question the witnesses.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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