Crime & Safety
Alleged Louis' Killer Claims Frame: Court Supervision
A man charged with gunning down another man in front of his wife and kids during the breakfast rush at Louis' says it was all a frame ... and more, in this week's court supervision.
By Joseph Hosey, Courts Field Editor
Not only does the man charged with the brutal breakfast killing at Louis' Family Restaurant claim he was framed for the murder, but he's scared to death of guns, was shot nine times himself, wasn't even in the popular Jefferson Street eatery, and was once killed.
Christopher "Little" Thompson complained during his bond hearing this week that "no one never got arrested" after he was shot nine times. Thompson also said he "died from it."
Thompson appeared alive during his bond hearing but the police say the man he allegedly shot at Louis', 29-year-old Gerardo Franchini, remains dead. Will County Judge Roger Rickmon set Thompson's bond at $10 million.
Here's what else was going on in court last week:
- A Mokena woman sued oil man Scott DeGroate. The woman said DeGroate was driving a DeGroate Petroleum company tanker truck when he followed her to the New Lenox movie theater. Then he allegedly slapped her in the face, knocking her eyeglasses to the ground. After the spectacles fell, DeGroate stomped on them and broke them, the lawsuit said. DeGroate, 45, already faces charges of battery and criminal damage to property in connection with the alleged March 29 attack.
- This guy was outside the Joliet courthouse.
- The sentencing hearing for New Lenox man Joseph Messina washeld but Messina has yet to be sentenced.
- There were arguments in the Nightmare on Hickory Street double murder case.
- Drew Peterson needs to drop one of his lawyers or waive any claim the attorney has conflicted interests, according to court papers filed by prosecutors.
- A Darien man's sentencing for sexually abusing a Lockport Township High School student was postponed when a lawyer questioned a written statement the young woman produced. The attorney for 42-year-old Timothy Hagan said he received the victim's statement the morning of the sentencing hearing and after reading it wanted to cross-examine her regarding claims she made about undergoing medical treatment.
- A Will County judge set a court date later this month to schedule the murder trial for Plainfield woman Gabriela Escutia.
- A convicted sex offender charged with another sex offense—among other things—was found innocent of all charges by a jury.
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