As previously reported, John Spooner shot and killed 13-year-old Darius Simmons on May 31, 2012. As a result of the shooting, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office has charged Mr. Spooner with first degree intentional homicide. The trial for Mr. Spooner has already been delayed once, due to a health issue for Mr. Spooner’s lawyer. On Wednesday, May 1, 2013, a hearing was held on Mr. Spooner’s Motion to delay the trial a second time, which had been scheduled to begin on May 6, 2013. Mr. Spooner requested the delay because the expert witness who he hired to testify regarding his alleged mental disease had broken his shoulder and would be unable to testify. During the hearing on the Motion, Darius’s mother, Patricia Larry, expressed her frustration with the delays in the trial, tearfully stating how hard the process has been on her and her family. While the Court expressed its sympathy to Ms. Larry and its dismay at the Motion, the Court granted the Motion, explaining that allowing the trial without Mr. Spooner’s expert would possibly provide the defense with grounds for mistrial and a re-trial, which would make the process last even longer. The trial is now scheduled to begin on July 15, 2013. Read more about the case in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel here.
The Milwaukee personal injury lawyers of Samster, Konkel & Safran represent Ms. Larry in her wrongful death lawsuit against John Spooner. Please check this website and our Blog for continuing updates on the trial of Mr. Spooner.
