The Peoria County State’s Attorney is requesting a judge reconsider his decision to appoint a special prosecutor to a 46-year-old murder murder case.
State’s Attorney Jerry Brady filed a motion Tues. defending his reason for calling his friend and colleague, Ron Hamm, who was the prosecutor in the trial that led to the lifelong prison sentence of Cleve Heidelberg.
Brady says in the filing he called prosecutor Ron Hamm on Apr. 22 with the intent of releasing Hamm’s number to the news media.
However, WCBU interviewed Hamm via cell phone, one month prior to the contested call brought up in court documents.
The filing repeats previous arguments made that no new evidence exists and also argues that the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct do not apply in the appointment of a special prosecutor.
Assistant State's Attorney Larry Evans is scheduled to appear before Circuit Judge Al Purham on August 25 to represent Brady's motion to reconsider.
Last month, Judge Purham ruled in favor of appointing a special prosecutor from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to investigate Heidelberg’s case. Purham said he was "troubled" by missing information from the initial police investigation that led to the conviction of Heidelberg. Heidelberg is 73 and serving a minimum 99-year sentence in a Galesburg prison.
The next hearing is September 22nd.