High Profile Murder Trial Coming to Peoria Co.
By: Jacob Long, WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: January 14, 2013
LINCOLN - A high-profile murder trial is moving from Logan County to Peoria County.
11th Circuit Judge Scott Drazewski ruled in favor Monday of a change of venue motion filed on behalf of Christopher Harris.
Harris is accused of killing five members of the Gee & Constant family inside their Beason home in September 2009.
In arguing in support of the motion, Harris' attorney, Dan Fultz of Springfield, said his client can not get a fair trial in Logan County due to extensive media coverage and what he calls pre-concieved notions about Harris' guilt.
Fultz told WMBD 31 he believes Harris will face less bias in Peoria County because of its larger population and what he describes as a significant difference in demographics.
"It doesn't have that small town feel," Fultz said.
On the flip side, he did express concern about the possibility of news cameras and microphones being in the courtroom for the trial.
Peoria County falls in the state's 10th judicial circuit, which is considering participating in a new experimental pilot program for expanded media coverage inside courtrooms.
Fulz said, "I kind of like to do my job without a whole lot of attention, so that part concerns me. Also things get misconstrued for people who only see what happens on camera."
But overall, Fultz said he has full confidence in the new location and doesn't plan on changing his strategy.
He argues one of the victims, Dillen Constant, was in the midst of murdering his family when Harris walked in and killed the boy in self-defense.
Harris' trial is expected to begin April 29.
11th Circuit Judge Scott Drazewski ruled in favor Monday of a change of venue motion filed on behalf of Christopher Harris.
Harris is accused of killing five members of the Gee & Constant family inside their Beason home in September 2009.
In arguing in support of the motion, Harris' attorney, Dan Fultz of Springfield, said his client can not get a fair trial in Logan County due to extensive media coverage and what he calls pre-concieved notions about Harris' guilt.
Fultz told WMBD 31 he believes Harris will face less bias in Peoria County because of its larger population and what he describes as a significant difference in demographics.
"It doesn't have that small town feel," Fultz said.
On the flip side, he did express concern about the possibility of news cameras and microphones being in the courtroom for the trial.
Peoria County falls in the state's 10th judicial circuit, which is considering participating in a new experimental pilot program for expanded media coverage inside courtrooms.
Fulz said, "I kind of like to do my job without a whole lot of attention, so that part concerns me. Also things get misconstrued for people who only see what happens on camera."
But overall, Fultz said he has full confidence in the new location and doesn't plan on changing his strategy.
He argues one of the victims, Dillen Constant, was in the midst of murdering his family when Harris walked in and killed the boy in self-defense.
Harris' trial is expected to begin April 29.
