Highland Park Murder Defendants Plead Not Guilty

Attorneys for three of the four defendants in the Colin Nutter murder case appear on different strategic paths as their clients pled not guilty at their arraignment today in Lake County Criminal Court in Waukegan.

Benjamin Schenk, 20, of Highwood along with Philip Vatamaniuc and Michael Coffee, both 17 of Highland Park, were charged with first degree murder and other offenses in Nutter’s death June 7 and indicted by a Lake County Grand Jury June 26.

As each defendant appeared before Lake County Criminal Court Judge Mark Levitt to enter their plea, Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney Reggie Mathews said he was seeking more severe punishment against all three which could be as long as life in prison.

As each defendant appeared before Levitt to plead not guilty, Nutter’s parents, Michael and Angie Nutter, watched. “As a mother, I’ve lost everything,” Angie said after leaving the courtroom. “We are his voice right now.” Michael Nutter made a statement contained on a Patch video.

Mathews asserted Schenk did the actual killing. “Based on the evidence we’ve reviewed, we believe he was the shooter,” Mathews said at a news conference after the hearing.

Schenk, who appeared before Leavitt in leg irons while his co-defendants did not, is not looking for a quick trial, according to his lawyer, James Bertucci.

“I was thinking about November,” Bertucci said to Leavitt about initial trial scheduling when the judge suggested a July date. The case was set for trial Nov. 7. Schenk returns to court at 9 a.m. July 25 for status.

Meanwhile Robert Ritacca, the attorney for Philip Vatamoniuc, one of the two people the prosecution said was in the car when Nutter was shot, told Judge Mark Levitt he is ready for trial and asked for the soonest possible date.

“We have made a speedy trial demand,” Ritacca said. “I’m ready for trial now,” he added after the hearing. Ritacca also told Levitt he plans to seek a separate trial from Schenk and Coffee. Levitt set an initial trial date of July 22. Vatamoniuc returns to court at 9 a.m. July 12 for status.

Though complex cases like this often do not proceed to trial for a long time, Mathews said he would be prepared. “We will be ready,” he said. “Before we bring charges we have reviewed the evidence,” he added suggesting he had what he needed to proceed.

Once a defendant makes a speedy trial demand, the prosecution must bring the case to trial within 120 days of the arrest.

Levitt set Coffee’s case for trial August 26. He returns to court at 9 a.m. July 29 for status.