The Law Offices Of Thomas Glasgow - Degorski Trial | Video Transcript

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[GRAPHIC: 7 News at 11AM]

[GRAPHIC: Murder suspect]

SYLVIA PEREZ: Sixteen years after seven employees were killed inside a Palatine restaurant, the last suspect is going on trial. Hello everyone, thanks for joining us. I'm Sylvia Perez.

HOSEA SANDERS: I'm Hosea Sanders, in for Linda today. Opening statements began today in the James Degorski murder trial.

[GRAPHIC: Degorski Trial]

HOSEA SANDERS: He is the second of two men accused of killing seven people at a Brown's Chicken and Pasta restaurant in Palatine back in 1973. ABC 7's Evelyn Holmes joins us now live from Cook County criminal courts building with more. Evelyn?

EVELYN HOLMES: Hosea, the second man accused of committing the murders that were a mystery for nine years will finally get his day in court. Just moments ago the capital murder trial of James Degorski began. In the meantime, some victims' families arrived for the start hoping for some sort of closure and also a guilty verdict. But they realize that that guilty verdict is far from a done deal.

Some 16 years after their loved ones were murdered inside a suburban fast food restaurant, victims' families brace for another trial.

MARY NUNEZ: It's extremely emotional. I mean it's very hard for all of us, especially my mother.

[GRAPHIC: James Degorski]

EVELYN HOLMES: Opening arguments get underway in the capitol murder case of James Degorski. He's the second of two men accused of killing the owners of a Brown's Chicken and Pasta restaurant in Palatine, along with five of their employees during a January 8th, 1993 robbery.

[GRAPHIC: Juan Luna]

EVELYN HOLMES: The conviction and life sentence given to Degorski's co-defendant and high school friend Juan Luna came in May of 2007. As some victims' relatives say, this trial of the last suspect could mean closure.

MARY NUNEZ: I don't think any of us will have any closure. I mean of course we want the proceedings to go on and, you know, we want justice served, but I don't think we'll ever have any closure.

[GRAPHIC: James Degorski and Juan Luna]

EVELYN HOLMES: Both Degorski and Luna were arrested in May of 2002 after Degorski's ex-girlfriend told police they confessed to her about their roles in the slayings. Court watchers say although prosecutors were able to get a guilty verdict in Luna's trial, because they had DNA evidence along with a lengthy videotape confession from him, convicting Degorski may be more difficult because of a lack of hard evidence linking him to the crime.

THOMAS GLASGOW: We have circumstantial evidence putting him at the scene. We have circumstantial evidence that he committed the crime. We have circumstantial evidence that he was involved and that he actually committed the murders.

EVELYN HOLMES: It appears the prosecution understands that this is an uphill battle. The jury will not hear the videotaped confession of Juan Luna. What they will hear though are two key prosecution witnesses. That would be Degorski's ex-girlfriend and also another friend of Degorski's. Both these women say that Degorski told them about his role in the slayings.

In the meantime, we are told as well that prosecutors are ready to go but are going to have to deal with the fact that that lack of hard evidence. Opening arguments begin this morning. Reporting live from the Cook County criminal courts building here at 26th and California, Evelyn Holmes, ABC 7 News. Hosea, back to you.

HOSEA SANDERS: Evelyn, thank you so much. And jury selection beings today for Korrell Weeks [phonetic] charged in the fatal shooting.