Defense Wants New Trial For Derrion Albert Murder Convict

March 16, 2011 9:47 AM

Silvonus Shannon (left) is one of five defendants charged in the beating murder of Derrion Albert (right). (Credit: Chicago Police Department/CBS)

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CHICAGO (CBS) – A new twist has emerged in the case of Silvonus Shannon, one of the men convicted in the beating death of Fenger High School honor student Derrion Albert.

Shannon’s attorneys revealed Tuesday that months ago, several jurors asked the judge to show mercy in sentencing. Now they are using Judge Nicholas Ford’s failure to disclose that fact in their request for a new trial.

Also, juror Larry Feit wrote to defense attorneys over the weekend, saying he was a holdout and had struggled to find Shannon guilty. This is also part of the basis for the defense motion for a new trial.

Shannon had been scheduled for sentencing on Tuesday, but the hearing was postponed to March 24.

Shannon was convicted by a jury on Jan. 11. He could face up to 60 years in prison.

During Shannon’s trial, Cook County prosecutors had urged jurors to see past his claims of self-defense, saying Albert was lying on the ground with his hand up in the air when Shannon began kicking him in the Sept. 24, 2009, attack.

Albert was an honor student at Fenger High School, 10220 S. Wallace St. He was walking home past the Agape Community Center, 342 W. 111th St., when he was caught in the middle of a fight between Fenger students who lived in “The Ville” neighborhood near the school, and students who lived more than four miles south in the Altgeld Gardens public housing development.

Albert died of his injuries.

The fight was also captured on a cell phone video, which was seen around the world and drew unflattering attention to the city.

Defense Wants New Trial For Derrion Albert Murder Convict

wayne capinegro

Free them all. They’ll probably be dead in a year or two anyway.
Michael Ingram

Way to promote your self by saying they will be all dead in a year or two! It seems to me that racism still exist in 2011!

The Trusth

I don’t believe the comments made by Wayne mentioned anything racist. so, why in the world do you pull the race card out of your a$$? Obviously, you are the racist and we really do not want to read your the vomit you type. We don’t need punks like this in our society. I agree with Jeff and A. Saxon below.

Jeff

I say hang them all , I saw the video . Kid was hit with a board … Hang them then shoot them , worthless pieces of garbage..

NWA

You posting, “I saw the video. Kid was hit with a board” lets know me that you didn’t watch the entire video. Derrion Albert was an assailant before he became a victim. By that fact, all involved in his death should’ve been charged with manslaughter.

With the entire community’s outraged, the Cook County State Attorney charged them with murder when it wasn’t and, the presiding judges will follow the prosecutors in a “lock step” and sentenced them without accord to the action. In the video of the action everyone seems to be hitting everyone and someone then lost their life. It is sad, but that’s what I saw.

S.O.S.

A. Saxon

These black a$$ African negro booty scratchers should be hung. They don’t noww, and never will serve any good purpose in our society!!!!

Jim

Really have to feel sorry for the KID KILLER. Instead of 60 years how about a 60 minute beatdown, for say, 60 months straight, like the one he chose to inflict upon another. Incarceration does not do the poor deceased KID justice.

A. Saxon

Agreed!!!

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/03/24/sentencing-planned-for-derrion-albert-murder-convict/ Sentencing Planned For Derrion Albert Murder Convict « CBS Chicago

[...] But the sentencing could be postponed again. Shannon’s attorneys are asking new trial after the young man’s attorneys learned seven jurors le… [...]