Chester Weger: Illinois: Bulletin: Starved Rock Media reports that a ruling on his a"possible exoneration" has been moved up 2 weeks, noting that, " Lawyers and Judge Michael Jansz had a conference call Monday to discuss a motion to expedite the ruling filed by Weger's team. Instead of a July 2nd ruling, Judge Jansz now will give his decision two weeks sooner, Wednesday, June 18th. The decision to expedite was given based on Weger's failing health."

BACKGROUND: From a previous post (May 18) of this Blog:  "Chester Wager: Illinois: The Starved Rock murders: Starve Rock Media reports that testimony has wrapped up in a mini-trial evidentiary hearing described as featuring "three days of highly scientific testimony to go along with plenty of hearsay," in which, "The 86-year-old is trying to get his murder conviction overturned, with his defense offering what they say is new evidence that if presented to a jury now, would lead to a not guilty verdict."…"Colby Lasyone, chief of staff at Othram, Inc. says his Texas-based lab looked for a DNA profile on a hair found on the glove of Starved Rock murder victim Frances Murphy. His lab’s conclusion was that the hair was most likely linked to brothers Leo, Charles, and Edward Bray of Utica. To further their conclusion, the lab suggested exhuming the bodies of the brothers. That never happened."

https://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2025/05/chester-wager-illinois-starved-rock.html

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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "The defense believes Weger was framed and that the murder of three women at Starved Rock State Park was committed by members of the Chicago mob. Acting as special prosecutors, Will County attorney's say the defense has presented hearsay testimony and the fact remains Weger confessed to murder. During their closing arguments, prosecutors called the mob did it theory a “lazy theory.” Judge Jansz has repeated that he won’t be determining the guilt or innocence of Weger. Instead an overturned murder conviction could lead to a new trial for the paroled Weger."

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STORY: "Ruling On Possible Exoneration Of Chester Weger Moved Up Two Weeks" published by Starved Rock Media, on June 3, 2025.

HIST: "The much anticipated ruling in Chester Weger's push for exoneration will happen sooner than first planned.

Lawyers and Judge Michael Jansz had a conference call Monday to discuss a motion to expedite the ruling filed by Weger's team. Instead of a July 2nd ruling, Judge Jansz now will give his decision two weeks sooner, Wednesday, June 18th. The decision to expedite was given based on Weger's failing health.

The 86-year-old Weger did not attend any of his evidentiary hearing last month after moving from La Salle to Missouri. His defense called witnesses to try and convince Judge Jansz that their new evidence “probably” would mean a different result in a new trial. The defense believes Weger was framed and that the murder of three women at Starved Rock State Park was committed by members of the Chicago mob.

Acting as special prosecutors, Will County attorney's say the defense has presented hearsay testimony and the fact remains Weger confessed to murder. During their closing arguments, prosecutors called the mob did it theory a “lazy theory.”

Judge Jansz has repeated that he won’t be determining the guilt or innocence of Weger. Instead an overturned murder conviction could lead to a new trial for the paroled Weger.

The entire story can be read at:

https://www.starvedrock.media/wlpo/ruling-on-possible-exoneration-of-chester-weger-moved-up-two-weeks/article_10dce062-fdc0-44e9-a7a3-ff3c41453cdc.html

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:  I am monitoring this case/issue/resource. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic"  section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com.  Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog.

SEE BREAKDOWN OF  SOME OF THE ON-GOING INTERNATIONAL CASES (OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL USA) THAT I AM FOLLOWING ON THIS BLOG,  AT THE LINK BELOW:  HL:

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/120008354894645705/4704913685758792985

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FINAL WORD:  (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases):  "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."

Lawyer Radha Natarajan:

Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;

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FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions.   They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they've exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true!

Christina Swarns: Executive Director: The Innocence Project;

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