Defense Wants New Trial For Derrion Albert Murder Convict
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A new twist has emerged in the case of Silvonus Shannon, one of the men convicted in the beating death of Fenger High School honor student Derrion Albert.
Shannon's attorneys revealed Tuesday that months ago, several jurors asked the judge to show mercy in sentencing. Now they are using Judge Nicholas Ford's failure to disclose that fact in their request for a new trial.
Also, juror Larry Feit wrote to defense attorneys over the weekend, saying he was a holdout and had struggled to find Shannon guilty. This is also part of the basis for the defense motion for a new trial.
Shannon had been scheduled for sentencing on Tuesday, but the hearing was postponed to March 24.
Shannon was convicted by a jury on Jan. 11. He could face up to 60 years in prison.
During Shannon's trial, Cook County prosecutors had urged jurors to see past his claims of self-defense, saying Albert was lying on the ground with his hand up in the air when Shannon began kicking him in the Sept. 24, 2009, attack.
Albert was an honor student at Fenger High School, 10220 S. Wallace St. He was walking home past the Agape Community Center, 342 W. 111th St., when he was caught in the middle of a fight between Fenger students who lived in "The Ville" neighborhood near the school, and students who lived more than four miles south in the Altgeld Gardens public housing development.
Albert died of his injuries.
The fight was also captured on a cell phone video, which was seen around the world and drew unflattering attention to the city.
