Monday, July 24, 2006 11:20 PM CDT
Williams scheduled for another hearing
By DAVE FOPAY, Staff Writer
dfopay@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON -- It should be known in about a month whether a Mattoon woman accused of killing her 3-month-old son will go to trial or plead guilty.
On Monday, Marissa A. Williams was scheduled for another hearing at which the status of her case will be reviewed. Circuit Judge Gary Jacobs set the hearing for Aug. 28 and told attorneys in the case that should be enough time to decide whether there will be a trial.
“I want you to thoroughly review all matters honestly and openly and tell me how this case is tracking,” Jacobs said.
Williams, 23, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing her son Dylan McDonald at her residence at 4213 Lake Land Blvd., Mattoon, on March 24. She’s accused of smothering the baby in bedding materials.
In court Monday, Public Defender Lonnie Lutz, who represents Williams, suggested one more hearing to review the status of the case before scheduling a trial. State’s Attorney Steve Ferguson, who’s prosecuting, agreed the time the judge allowed should be enough to make that decision.
“We’ll either have a yea or a nay,” Ferguson said.
Lutz said the amount of evidence and other materials to review in the case is “quite voluminous,” but added that he thought there could be a decision on whether the case would go to trial by the next hearing.
Until recently, progress in Williams’ case was limited because there was a question of whether her mental capabilities would affect if she could stand trial. Monday’s hearing was the first since Jacobs declared her mentally fit for trial, based on a psychologist’s conclusions.
Local clinical psychologist Jerry Boyd examined Williams, based on Lutz’s request, and determined she understood the case and could help with the defense, the two issues that determine whether a criminal suspect is mentally fit for trial.
According to police documents in her case, Williams reportedly said the child was “fussy” and she was trying to stop him from crying, but also said she knew what she did was wrong and could have harmed the baby.
The police documents also say Williams admitted holding the baby’s head into a blanket three times, the last for about 20 minutes.
Jacobs ordered Williams to stand trial on the charges in April, when she entered a not-guilty plea. She remains in jail with her bond set where she would have to post $20,000 to be released. Williams would face at least 20 years in prison if she’s convicted of the murder charges.
Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 348-5733.
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Fxiccxypxc wrote on May 10, 2007 11:31 AM: