Terminally ill witness to testify early in Sheley Case

Here is an article as it appeared in the Galesburg Resister mail and a televised report that appeared on WQAD in the Quad Cities. The Quad Cities are located between Sterling, IL and Galesburg, IL where 6 of the 8 alleged victims of Sheley were killed. The other 2 victims were in Festus, MO, near St. Louis.

The testimony of this terminally ill witness is another twist in this very twisted case.

Katfishponders would like to salute this witness for contacting the state to make arrangements for her testimony at a very difficult time in her life. You are a hero in the eyes of many for taking time in this difficult period of your life to fullfill your civic duty and provide your testimony in a particularly horrific case. Thank You and God Bless You!

Here is the report in the Galesburg Register Mail:

By SUSAN KAUFMAN
The Register-Mail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GALESBURG — .A woman who says she saw Nicholas Sheley in Galesburg on June 28, 2008, will have her testimony recorded this week after the prosecution learned she has only weeks to live.

Sheley is suspected of kidnapping 65-year-old Ronald Randall, hijacking his truck, stealing his wallet and killing him June 28, 2008, in Galesburg. Sheley is being held on $10 million bond and faces the death penalty if convicted.

An emergency motion hearing was conducted in Knox County Circuit Court on Monday to depose the woman who has terminal cancer in the case against Nicholas Sheley. Ninth Circuit Judge James Stewart ordered the state’s written motion sealed to protect the woman’s identity and privacy.

Bill Elward of the Illinois Attorney General’s office told the court the woman is a “brief occurrence witness” whose testimony to the police encompassed about five to 10 pages in a written report but her video-taped testimony will be about 10 to 15 minutes in length. Elward said the woman will not be able to testify at the trial scheduled for summer or fall of 2010. “She will be available this week. It is a most urgent matter. This is a witness who is dying,” Elward told the court.

The woman’s testimony will be conducted at the Knox County jail library Wednesday.

Stipulations were made about the clothes Sheley will wear and the video camera which will remain focused on the witness unless there is a question about her identifying Sheley or a disturbance during her deposition.

Sheley also is accused of killing seven other people in two states.

This is the televised report from WQAD:

Sphere: Related Content