The sentencing of a Highland Park man for the murder of Colin Nutter was delayed Tuesday after the defendant tried to switch attorneys just before he was due to find out how much time he will spend in prison.
Full Answer
Vatamaniuc was one of three defendants charged with murder in Nutter's death. Benjamin Schenk of Highwood has pleaded guilty under a negotiated deal and is awaiting sentencing. A trial date is still pending for Michael Coffee of Highland Park, whose case has been stalled by fitness issues.
Sara Nutter, the sister of homicide victim Colin Nutter, speaks about her brother and her desire for accountability from Philip Vatamaniuc on the day of his sentencing. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)
Vatamaniuc was 17 at the time of the shooting, and Burton and Amen also said Ritacca did not use his age as a defense. But Rossetti noted in her ruling that Ritacca cited prior rulings while making arguments that his age should be considered a factor in the case.
Burton said in court Thursday that Vatamaniuc was denied his right to effective counsel in part because his first attorney, Robert Ritacca, did not properly and fully explains terms of a plea deal offered to Vatamaniuc in 2013.
Vatamaniuc was convicted in April 2017 of first-degree murder in the case during a bench trial before Lake County Circuit Court Judge Victoria Rossetti, who late Thursday afternoon denied a motion from defense attorneys to vacate his conviction or grant a new trial on the basis of ineffective counsel.
The two defense attorneys also charged that attorney Patrick Quilty, who defended Vatamaniuc throughout most of his pretrial hearings and at trial, did not diligently pursue the location of potential trial witnesses with information that could have changed the outcome of Vatamaniuc's trial.
Burton said the situation was critical to Vatamaniuc's case.
Vatamaniuc — just 17 years old at the time of the killing — was one of three defendants charged with murder in Nutter's death. Benjamin Schenk of Highwood has pleaded guilty under a negotiated deal and is awaiting sentencing. A trial date is still pending for Michael Coffee of Highland Park.
Before the sentencing, Colin Nutter's mother, Angela Nutter, addressed the court and spoke of the pain she's endured since her son's death.
Lake County Circuit Court Judge Victoria Rossetti sentenced Philip Vatamaniuc to 54 years in prison after he was convicted in April of murder for his role in the 20-year-old Highland Park man's death.
Under a plea deal, Schenk faces a sentence of between 20 and 60 years. Vatamaniuc faced between 35 and 75 years.
Michael Nutter said he hopes to one day hike the Appalachian Trail as a tribute to his late son and "to start putting my shattered life together."
Later, Coffee and Schenk entered Nutter's parents' house with his key, stole marijuana and pills and then left with another of the Nutters' cars, prosecutors said.
Following the verdict, Michael Nutter said, "I just think this is a sad situation for everyone, but I still feel some closure."
WAUKEGAN, IL — The first person to be sentenced in the 2013 murder of 20-year-old Colin Nutter was sentenced to 54 years in prison Friday. Philip Vatamaniuc, now 22, was convicted of first degree murder in the killing of the Highland Park college student in April 2017. He was 17 when he and two accomplices, fellow Highland Park High School student Benjamin Schenk of Highwood, who has pleaded guilty, and Michael Coffee of Highland Park, who awaits trial, allegedly conspired to rob Nutter by setting up a marijuana deal.
Nutter's father told the News-Sun that he considered the 54-year sentence to be just.
Nutter's body was found in Wilmette near the Edens Expressway by a teenager as she walked her dog.
Schenk's plea agreement allows for a sentence of between 20 and 60 years. It has not yet been finalized, and his next court appearance has been set for April 24.
The day before his sentencing, Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti rejected a last minute motion by defense attorneys hired after Vatamaniuc's conviction last year for a new trial. They argued his attorney had not properly explained the terms of a plea deal offered in 2013 that would have seen him serve fewer than 13 years.
Now 15, Sharron Townsend was 12 when he shot and killed 54-year-old Thomas Trent on Jacksonville's Westside in 2014. Although the murder weapon was never found, there was surveillance footage of Townsend running away from the scene, along with another teen who later worked with police to bring charges against Townsend.
Dr. Joseph Wu, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of California at Irvine, testified that Townsend has brain evidence that there was excessive alcohol damage in utero from his mother.
Joy Purdy co-anchors the 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. newscasts with Tarik Minor and the 11 p.m. weeknight newscasts with Kent Justice.
Part of the prosecution's argument was that Townsend's psychological profile was no excuse for murder. Prosecutors cross-examined Colino, asking him, "How does the fact that they have problems with impulse control make them shoot a person in the head?"
Colino replied, "That's a very silly question. It doesn't make someone shoot another person in the head. It means that if an impulse arises, a person with a front lobe lesion or frontal lobe abnormality will have considerable difficulty suppressing that impulse."
Defense witness Dr. Geoffrey Colino, a forensic neurologist, testified via Skype that prenatal records of Townsend show his mother smoked marijuana and tobacco during pregnancy. He also testified about alcohol and cocaine use.
Sonya Flynn, a forensic social worker who worked with Townsend, testified for the defense.