Opening statements set for Tuesday for third suspect in 2019 Bloomington murder

The trial in Judge Casey Costigan’s courtroom is expected to last about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks. (Photo courtesy HOI ABC)

By HOI ABC

BLOOMINGTON – Lawyers finished pretrial motions and picked a jury on Monday, setting the stage for a murder trial to begin in McLean County Court.

Opening statements are set to start at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the trial of Amari McNabb, 22, who’s claiming self-defense for the April 2019 shooting death of Juan Nash, 25, in the 1200 block of Orchard Road in Bloomington.

Two other men were convicted and sentenced to prison for Nash’s death. Scotty Allen, 21, was given 50 years behind bars after a jury found him guilty. Exodus Hebert, 20, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The trial in Judge Casey Costigan’s courtroom is expected to last about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…