Daily Eastern News: September 19, 2003 Eastern Illinois University
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Eastern Illinois University The Keep September 2003 9-19-2003 Daily Eastern News: September 19, 2003 Eastern Illinois University Follow this and additional works at: http://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_2003_sep Recommended Citation Eastern Illinois University, "Daily Eastern News: September 19, 2003" (2003). September. 14. http://thekeep.eiu.edu/den_2003_sep/14 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the 2003 at The Keep. It has been accepted for inclusion in September by an authorized administrator of The Keep. For more information, please contact [email protected]. N “Tell the truth September 19, 2003 FRIDAY and don’t be afraid.” VOLUME 87, NUMBER 20 THEDAILYEASTERNNEWS.COM Panthers host Redbirds ISU’s explosive offense meets Eastern’s stifling defense Saturday at O’Brien Stadium. Page 12 SPORTS No charges filed yet in crash death N State’s attorney will determine whether to pursue action in homicide By Carly Mullady CITY EDITOR Pressing charges for a summer death ruled homicide is now in the State’s Attorney’s hands. Last Thursday, a coroner’s jury in Champaign County ruled the summer car accident death of Eastern student Sheila Sue Henson a homicide. The homicide ruling is then submitted to the state’s attorney in the county the accident occurred. “Depending on circumstances, sometimes they will press charges and sometimes they won’t,” Champaign Deputy Coroner Duane Northrup said. “The state’s attorney does not have to prosecute unless they feel there is enough evidence to prose- DAILY EASTERN NEWS PHOTOS BY COLIN MCAULIFFE cute a homicide.” Lorelei Sims, former Eastern graduate and owner of 5 Points Blacksmith located at 218 State St., works on a welding project A homicide ruling means the jury viewed a death Thursday afternoon. occurred as the result of someone else’s actions. “Homicide is not an actual offense, it’s a matter of death,” Northrup said. “It can lead to different charges, different forms, such as reckless homi- Iron maiden cide or vehicular manslaughter.” According to Illinois statutes, reckless homicide, N City Council member Lorelei when the offender is under the influence of alcohol Mary says of Sims, “She’s very intelli- or drugs, is punishable with three to 14 years Sims twists metal into art gent and works very hard at being a coun- imprisonment. cilwoman. She’s always been fair when Henson died June 21 at Carle Hospital in By Amee Bohrer making a decision, as far as I’m con- Champaign from injuries sustained in a single-car FEATURES EDITOR cerned.” accident the night before on Illinois Route 316 in “She brings art to everything she does, Charleston. The hands of Lorelei Sims are dirty, as and she looks good dirty,” says Sim’s hus- At the Sept. 11 inquest, Detective Sgt. Tad they have been for the last 11 years. Not as band Mark McGrath. Freezeland of the Coles County Sheriff’s in a little bit muddy or moderately greasy, They were married one year ago May 29 Department, reported the driver of the vehicle, but absolutely black with no reflection. after knowing each other only three Trisia A. Jones, had a blood alcohol content of 0.22 She’s been forging iron. months. Both shared a common interest in percent along with the presence of cocaine in her There are several scars on her forearms working with metal and they enjoy work- system. from chips of iron that accidentally landed ing on projects together. Henson was the only passenger in the car when Jones there during work; they are white, faded Her “smithy” studio as she refers to it, is drove it off the road. and smooth. They don’t bother her in the located at 218 State Street, near the Square Henson was air-lifted to Carle, where she was least. area and only a block from her home. pronounced dead less than eight hours later. When you’re a blacksmith, “you never It’s hard to miss. Bill Fabian, deputy coroner of Champaign leave work without black on your hands,” A burnt orange-colored cinder block County, said Henson’s toxicology results showed a Sims said. “Visitors are forewarned.” building, it has green accents and blue 0.14 blood alcohol content and evidence of opiates But Sims never would have gotten into lined windows with yellow blinds. Rusted and cocaine. welding if it hadn’t been for Cary Knoop, iron railings and ornate gate pieces lean Henson was 34 when the accident occurred. She the man who “turned me on to metal.” against the side, with vines growing Lorelei Sims, who has owned her is survived by her parents, Brenda Colman, Dan Knoop was her sculpture professor and between the curlings of the iron. business for 10 years, stands McGrew and children Kasandra Sue Henson, became her mentor. There is a simple sign that proclaims, underneath an art and welding Kaleb Lee Kuhlman and Kodie Kristopher Henson. She later became a colleague of Knoop’s “Blacksmith,” over the door, and a project that she made and mount- Coles County Asst. State’s Attorney Duane wife, Mary, when Sims became a ed herself in the basement of Booth Deters has not yet offered comment. SEE SIMS N Page 9 Charleston City Council member. Library. Another two pieces are displayed on the third floor of City Editor Carly Mullady can be reached at Booth near the conference rooms. [email protected]. Mertz’s appeal submission extended to November N Entire process could about 10 years before all the “One of our lawyers is said. various appeals have ended.” assigned to read and go over the If relief is granted, the case “...it can take about 10 take 10 years The state of Illinois is still files, compiles a brief and files will go back to trial court, honoring the moratorium put it to the Supreme Court.” “before the same judge that did years before all the By Carly Mullady into place by former Gov. Ferguson said the attorney for the sentencing.” CITY EDITOR George Ryan. the appellate defender’s office Should the Supreme Court various appeals have The appeals process for con- “I think the governor said he is working on the brief. “They honor the trial court decision, victed murderer Anthony Mertz would lift the moratorium when received an extension until the defender could appeal fed- ended.” is in its beginning phases and there is fair and adequate some time in early November to erally with constitutional viola- could take up to ten years to reform,” Gottfried said. issue their brief,” he said. tions. —Ted Gottfried finalize. Executions in Illinois will con- The state then files a “Most people with the death Mertz, convicted and sen- tinue when the trial and sentenc- response. penalty do that,” Gottfried said. tenced to death in February, had ing process is reformed. Grounds of appeal must be However, the U.S. Supreme fered injuries similar to an initial execution date last Mertz’s trial level defense established and a date will be set Court sees very few of the cases McNamara’s. May 5 set by Judge Dale Cini. team filed a post-trial motion for oral arguments, in the form turned over to it. He was also linked to the Feb. The date was withdrawn when in March, within the 30-day of The State of Illinois v. Mertz. Mertz was convicted in 13, 2000 arson that destroyed an Mertz’s defense team filed the time limit, listing 190 errors During oral arguments, the February of breaking into the apartment building at Fourth post-trial motion, beginning the that allegedly occurred under appellate defender and attorney Charleston residence of fellow Street and Buchanan Avenue. appeal process. Cini. general will present their cases Eastern student Shannon Damage was then estimated at At each level a death sentence Since Mertz’s case is a death of either why Mertz’s convic- McNamara, strangling her to $2.5 million. can be upheld, an execution date penalty case, it was automatical- tion and sentence are unjusti- death with a washcloth and then Mertz was a nearby resident is issued. ly subject to appeal with the fied, or how his crimes are wor- sexually assaulting and stab- and was quoted in regard to the “The court usually assigns an Illinois Supreme Court. thy of the sentence, respective- bing her in June 2001. fire in the Feb. 14, 2000 edition execution date within months,” “The court reporter will issue ly. During the sentencing phase, of The Daily Eastern News. said Ted Gottfried, state appel- a transcript; put together a “The state supreme court will Mertz was connected to the late defender. “But with defen- record of appeal,” Gottfried either grant relief or affirm the June 1999 murder of Charleston City editor Carly Mullady can be dants filing appeals, it can take said. trial court decision,” Gottfried resident Amy Warner, who suf- reached at [email protected] REVIEW THIS ON THE VERGE OF THE WEEKEND Once Upon A Time in Mexico Sequel to Desperado heats up the screen Friday, September 19, 2003 Section B Page 7B Think globally, act locally: Charleston bookstore sells worldwide FAVORITE FIVE MUSIC REVIEWS MOVIE REVIEWS CONCERT CALENDAR In memory of Johnny Cash Ben David Bowie Cabin Fever Green Jenkins, The Rural Kings, and Erwin and Ben Turner share their A Perfect Circle Once Upon a Time in Mexico Lorenzo Goetz all in Charleston over favorite five songs from the Man The Raveonettes the weekend in Black N N N N Page 2B Page 8B Page 7B Page 8B Today Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Partly cloudy Sunny Partly cloudy Isolated T-storms Cloudy/wind Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Friday, 73º 43º 74º 5Oº 78º 54º 78º 55º 65º 54º 74º 51º 77º 55º September 19, 2003 HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH LOW Comic of Taco Bell fame performing in union basement By Kathleen Gore humor has paved his road to suc- STAFF WRITER cess, landing him spots on Letterman, Comedy Central and Students might recognize Dan E! Network.