Crime & Safety
Judge: Defendant Will Face First-Degree Murder Charges in Death of Toni Keller
A DeKalb County judge on Thursday denied defense motions to drop all five counts of first-degree murder against accused killer William Curl.
William “Billy” Curl will stand trial on charges he sexually assaulted and murdered Plainfield teen Antinette "Toni" Keller after a judge rejected a motion to dismiss all five counts of first-degree murder.
Judge Robbin Stuckert on Thursday denied the motion, filed in October by Curl’s attorneys.
READ: ACCUSED KILLER SEEKS TO HAVE CHARGES DISMISSED IN TONI KELLER CASE
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The lawyers asked the judge to dismiss the murder charges “because they do not specify what acts caused Keller’s death,” which prevents the accused killer from adequately preparing a defense, the DeKalb Daily Chronicle reported.
The judge also denied prosecutors’ request to bar testimony from a psychologist who conducted an evaluation of Curl for the defense.
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Along with the murder charges, 36-year-old Curl is charged with one count of criminal sexual assault and one count of concealing a homicidal death in the murder of Keller, 18.
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Keller, a Plainfield resident and Neuqua Valley High School graduate, disappeared on Oct. 14, 2010, after telling friends she planned to go for a walk in DeKalb’s Prairie Park to take photos for an art assignment. The teen was a freshman art major at Northern Illinois University.
Her remains were discovered two days later. Curl is accused of burning Keller’s body in an attempt to hide the crimes.
After being postponed three times, Curl’s trial is now slated to start Jan. 14, 2013. A status hearing is scheduled for Dec. 17.
READ – TONI KELLER TRIAL: NEW START DATE FALLS ON SLAIN STUDENT’S 21ST BIRTHDAY.
- Accused Killer Seeks to Have Murder Charges Dismissed in Toni Keller Case
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- Toni Keller Murder Trial Delayed Until December
- Public Defender Resigns in Keller Murder Trial
- ‘Summoning of the Yellow’ to Support Keller Family
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