Eastern Illinois University The Keep February 2003 2-13-2003 Daily Eastern News: February 13, 2003 Eastern Illinois University Follow this and additional works at: http://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_2003_feb Recommended Citation Eastern Illinois University, "Daily Eastern News: February 13, 2003" (2003). February. 9. http://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_2003_feb/9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the 2003 at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in February by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. "Thll the truth February 13,2003 + THURSDAY and don't be afraid." VOL UME 87, NUMBER 98 THEO AILYEAST£ RNN EWS . COM Affrrmative THE DAILY Action and Influence of University of Michigan case investigated in EASTERN NEWS Minority Thday Page 1 MINOR IT Y TODAY Mertz found guilty of murder + Former student named as perpetrator in 2007 slaying ofShannon McNamara By Sha111a Gustafson SENIOR WRITER Former Eastern student Anthony B. Mertz is guilty of the murder of Eastern student Shannon McNamara, as determined by a jury Wednesday, after eight intense days of testimony, evidence and arguments. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, found Mertz guilty of first-degree murder, home inva­ sion and aggravated criminal sexual assault after about three hours of deliberations. An eligibility hear­ ing will begin Friday to decide if Mertz is eligible to receive the death penalty. Court will not meet Thursday. Mertz reacted to the verdict simply by closing his eyes as he was declared guilty of first-degree murder. Family and friends reacted emotionally to the ver­ dict, breaking the silence of the courtroom with tears and sighs. After court adjourned for the day, the packed gallery remained, hugging and crying over the final outcome. "It was obviously emotional for the entire family," John Deutinger, McNamara's uncle First-degree murder said after the verdict + First -degree murder is was read. "There's no an applicable charge if words. For me person­ the person commits the ally, this helps ... (but) murder without lawful it doesn't bring justification and: Shannon back." - he/she either State's Attorney intends to kill or do great Steve Ferguson said bodily harm to that indi­ he was pleased with vidual or another, or the verdict. knows that such acts will "It's very gratifying cause death to that indi­ working with the fami­ vidual or another ly, they're a great - he/she knows that group of people," "I'm tired, sad," she said. "Now two lives have been such acts create a strong Ferguson said. "You destroyed instead of one." probability of death or develop attachments." Ferguson responded to Phillips' statement by say­ great bodily harm to that He said the number ing the jury apparently did not agree. individual or another of people sitting in on "I think the jury's verdict speaks for itself," he said - he/she is attempt­ the trial was larger Phillips said Mertz was "obviously scared," in ing or committing a than normal. regards to the decision. forcible felony other than "Consistently, this "We prepared him when the jury came back with second degree murder has been the largest the last question it was probably going to be guilty gallery in my tenure," (verdict)." she said. Aggravated criminal he said. Ferguson has The j ury's last question to the court during deliber­ sexual assault served as Coles ations was for a legal definition of what parts of the + Criminal Sexual County State's body are considered part of the female sex organ, in Assault: The accused Attorney since 1992. connection with the sexual assault charge. commits criminal sexual He said the family Bob and Cindy McNamara left the courthouse soon assault if he or she: simply said "thank after the verdict was read, not speaking with any - Commits an act of you" after the verdict media. Deuunger said the family is pleased with the sexual penetration (any was read. McNamara's jury's decision. contact or intrusion, mother Cindy was "Shannon was always a fighter," he said. "Shannon however slight of the sex overheard saying removed this predator from the streets." PHOTOS BY STEP HEN HAAS / ASSO CIATE PHOTO EDITOR "Shannon won," as she The next stage in the trial will be the eligibility and husband Bob left stage, in which the prosecution will present evidence TOP: Father Chris Brey, of the Newman Catholic Center, leads a group SH CHARG ES +Page 7A the courtroom that Mertz is over the age of 18 and has committed prayer Wednesday afternoon outside of the Coles County Courthouse Wednesday evening. crimes making him eligible for the death penalty. during deliberation in the murder trial of Anthony B. Mertz. The jury found Defense attorney Paula Phillips said she was sad Prosecutor Ed Parkinson said the jury will be asked to Mertz guilty on all three charges after nearly three hours of deliberation, after hearing the jury's decision, and said the police decide if Mertz is eligible. He said he expects this the jury found Mertz guilty on all three charges. work on the case had been "incompetent and sloppy," stage to be finished by midday Friday. ABOVE: A friend of Shannon McNamara, one of many students present and she was "amazed and appalled" the jury decided during the murder trial of Anthony B. Mertz, spreads the word on the the way they did. SH GUILTY + Page 7A payphone in the Coles County Courthouse after the guilty verdict on Wednesday afternoon. UPD officers goal to protect and serve Eastern By John Hohenadel 12 weeks of pollee training at the deal" because it had been unlocked STAFF WRITER University of Illinois at for the past four days. Champaign-Urbana and Eastern. Kozak did not have a ticket Some see University Police as bullies Courtesy calls, ticket writing Kozak has worked on campus writer with her Monday, so some and student discipline are all for seven years and knows the students who illegally parked their By Tim Martin concentrates on busting kids for examples of jobs performed by a campus quite well. cars in the Coleman North Lot got CAMPUS EDITOR alcohol," 'Ibm Hemberger, a sen­ University Police officer. "The first thing I do is cover the lucky. ior speech communications UPD officer Janice Kozak had whole campus once," Kozak said, "I can see when the weather is Only a few, raucous underage major, said. "They have got to aspirations to become an while patrolling campus Monday yucky why kids would want to drinkers endure discipline from remember it's a college campus - Emergency Medical Technician or during the second shift. "I look for drive to class, but we j ust don't the University Pollee Department they piddle around too much." a firefighter, but she was denied anything out of the ordinary or for have enough parking spaces," each weekend. UPD Chief Deputy Adam Due several times. something that has changed from Kozak said. And even fewer ever receive a said his staff took college youth Then she came to Eastern. the day before." Kozak then pulled up to a student reprimand stronger than a cam­ into account. Kozak of Fox Valley, a town in Kozak then called the dispatcher parked in a crosswalk by Coleman pus citation or a report to Judicial "We understand that it is part of northern Illinois, worked as a sec­ on her radio and asked about an Hall. She told the student to roll Affairs. the college experience to make retary at Eastern before a job unlocked gate at the Human down his window and politely told So why is it that some students mistakes," he said. opened in UPD, which she applied Services building between Thomas the student to move his car out of see the UPD as a bully? to and was hired. Hall and Klehm Hall. The dis­ "It seems like the UPD only SEE BULLIES +Page 9A Kozak became an officer after patcher told her it was "no big SH UPD + Page 9A Friday Saturday Sunday Ntonday Tuesday Wednesday Snow and rain Snow Snow showersv\t. Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Few showers PAGE - -~~ ~~ t.~ ~- ' ":,,[ 'c ~~ II 0 Thursday, 44° 37, 25° ~~. 42° 22° 45° 27° 45, 36° February 13, 2003 TWO HI GH •HIGH LOW HI GH LOW HI GH LOW HIGH LOW HI GH LOW COMING UP Get a full helping of soul food By Jeff Stauber too," Clancy said STAFF WR ITER "The dinner Is absolutely free to everybody." she said, "but we will The women of Sigma Gamma be accepting donations." Rho are hosting their annual soul The donations go to Sigma food dinner to recognize and share Gamma Rho to offset some of the African-American culture. cost for the dinner. Any extra pro­ A festive surroundJng and ceeds will be donated to one of the homEH:OOked food will be provided charities the sorority regularly at the gathering. sponsors. "It brings the campus communi­ "Last year, we were able to ty together, and everyone enjoys donate some of the money to the food and warm atmosphere,• Habitat for Humanity,• said Th.isha said Shonda Clancy, a senior bio­ Mikell, a graduate student In the logical services major who Is help­ College of Student Affairs and a Ing prepare the event Sigma Gamma Rho member. The event Is expected to attract "This Is our contribution to more than 50 people as part of Eastern Illinois University In help­ Eastern's celebration of African­ Ing to celebrate African-American American Heritage Month, Heritage Month, while at the same Clancy said.