Crime & Safety
Murderer to Face Mental Fitness Hearing
Sentencing for a Deerfield man found guilty of murdering a Vernon Hills woman with a baseball bat will be delayed until May to determine his mental fitness.
A May 6 court hearing has been scheduled for Daniel Baker, 24, of Deerfield, to determine if he can understand the possible sentence for his murder conviction, reports the Daily Herald.
In a report filed by psychiatrists, Baker said he believed he was convicted because "the judge was sleeping in court and that he may have a cocaine problem," reported the Lake County News-Sun.
, the mother of his then girlfriend, reported Patch. At his bench trial, Judge Daniel Shanes ruled Baker was mentally ill and did not act with premeditation when killing Aksman, but that he understood what he was doing.
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On Monday, Shanes granted the defense's request to schedule a mental fitness hearing on May 6, prior to his sentencing, reported the Lake County News-Sun. If the judge finds Baker is not mentally fit, he would be transported to a mental health facility for treatment.
Related:
Find out what's happening in Deerfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Nerheim Appoints Special Prosecutor in Baker Case
Judge Denies New Murder Trial for Baker
Update: Judge Explains Baker Guilty Verdict
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