Skip to main content

Survivors of Highland Park Parade Shooting Allowed to Attend Trial

Survivors of Highland Park Parade Shooting Allowed to Attend Trial
Survivors of Highland Park Parade Shooting Allowed to Attend Trial

Image Source : Survivors of Highland Park Parade Shooting Allowed to Attend Trial , Used Under : CC BY 4.0

Victims who survived the shooting at the Highland Park parade will be able to witness the trial of the suspect, although many of them will be called as witnesses, a judge ruled on Thursday.

Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti, in the final court hearing before jury selection begins on Monday, ruled in favor of the prosecution's request to allow victims to view the trial.

Prosecutors said that the majority of the 48 survivors of the July 4, 2022 attack plan to testify.

In her oral ruling, Rossetti stated that victims can attend the trial because none of them will identify the suspect, Robert Crimo III. Crimo is accused of 117 felony charges, including murder, for allegedly shooting parade attendees from a rooftop, killing seven people.

State law allows crime victims to be present at trials in which they testify, as long as their own testimony is not influenced by others, Rossetti said. She noted that prosecutors have stated that victims will simply recount their experience of the attack and how they were injured.

"In this particular case, there is no issue regarding the identification of the defendant from any witness," Rossetti emphasized in the brief hearing.

Prosecutors have said they will rely on surveillance video and a former school resource officer to identify Crimo as the alleged shooter.

In making her decision, Rossetti ruled against a defense request to exclude victims from viewing the trial. She also acknowledged that a supplemental motion from attorney Antonio Romanucci, representing several victims in a civil lawsuit, was debatable as it echoed the prosecution's arguments.

The judge also ruled that each victim may be accompanied by a "support person" to the trial.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Monday in Lake County court. In a previous hearing, Rossetti said the trial could last between four and six weeks.

Translated by Gisela Orozco for La Voz Chicago

Survivors of the Highland Park parade shooting will be allowed to witness the trial of the suspect, as ruled by Judge Victoria Rossetti, with many of them slated to testify. Prosecutors aim to convict Robert Crimo III for his alleged role in the tragic event.

Author Name: David Struett