Testimony began Monday (January 14, 2019) in Vermilion County Circuit Court in the re-trial of a Danville man on first-degree murder charges. Lafayette Harper was sentenced to sixty-five years in prison four years ago after being convicted on first-degree murder charges in a local shooting over nine years ago. The victim, Timothy Shutes Junior, was twenty when he was shot on October 24th, 2009 at Danville’s Elmwood Park.
The Illinois Appellate Court ruled that certain evidence should not have been allowed to be submitted in Harper’s first trial. Appellate Justices ruled that Harper should be given a new trial, and that is what began Monday in Danville.
A co-defendant, Davieon Harper of Danville, was earlier sentenced to thirty years in prison in connection with Shutes’ death.
