Home | Business News | Browse by Publication | D | Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)

Errors loom in Brown's trail Will investigators' missteps mean an O.J.-style result in Brown's trial?

Article Excerpt
Byline: Stacy St. Claire Daily Herald Staff Writer

Law enforcement officials long have been accused of mishandling the Brown's Chicken investigation - and the ongoing murder trial has done little to repair that image.

From losing evidence to forgetting to take important hand prints, police errors have given the defense ample ammunition. And as attorneys for Juan Luna, one of two men charged with the 1993 slayings, continue to make their case this week, those gaffes will remain in the spotlight.

"These are examples of incompetence," said Leonard Cavise, a professor at DePaul University College of Law. "It's not the kind of thing you expect from a 21st-century police department."

Prosecutors allege Luna, a former Brown's employee, and his high school buddy Jim Degorski killed seven people inside the Palatine chicken restaurant on Jan. 8, 1993. The men, who are being tried separately, have pleaded not guilty. If convicted, both could face the death penalty.

Prosecutors and Palatine police officials cannot comment on the handling of the case because of a court-imposed gag order.

Their own...