Dice game murder conviction upheld

A Wauconda man convicted of gunning down the winner of a dice game in Carpentersville will serve his full sentence of 70 years in prison after a state appeals court denied his appeal this month.

Michael J. Calabrese, 29, was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2007 for shooting Edmund Edwards to death May 1, 2005 outside the Fox View apartments.

Authorities said Calabrese, after losing money in a dice game to Edwards, tried to rob the Chicago Ridge man. When Edwards attempted to run away, police said, Calabrese shot him.

In his appeal, Calabrese argued the judge presiding over his trial failed to individually question potential jurors; there was insufficient evidence to prove his guilt; and the 70-year sentence was excessive.

Calabrese also argued jurors should not have heard his brother invoke his Fifth Amendment right not to testify.

The Second District Appellate Court upheld the trial court's rulings on those issues and affirmed Calabrese's 70-year sentence.

Calabrese, who was 25 at the time of the murder, was sentenced to 45-years' imprisonment, plus an additional 25 years for using a firearm. He will be 98 years old before he becomes eligible for parole.