June trial date in Elgin car ramming murder
A June 4 trial date has been set for the LaCorbek Benion, an Elgin teen whose mom was convicted last year of using her car to ram and kill his rival.
Timera Branch, 35, of Streamwood, was convicted of first-degree murder in the Nov. 8, 2009, death of 17-year-old John W. Keyes III.
Kane County Judge Allen Anderson presided over Branch's trial last August and sentenced her to 34 years, which she is now serving at the Dwight Correctional Center.
Anderson also will handle the jury trial of Benion, 18, who also faces a 20- to 60-year sentence if convicted of first-degree murder.
Authorities charged Branch with using her 1991 Chrysler Imperial to run down Keyes from behind and smash him into an apartment building on Elgin's near east side.
Benion needed stitches after he fought with Keyes at a party the night before because he was dancing with Benion's girlfriend.
Benion also is accused of riding in a separate car and using a bat to strike Keyes as his crumpled body lay on the ground after being struck by the vehicle. A witness at Branch's trial testified that after Branch rammed Keyes into the building in the 200 block of Center Street, Benion pulled up in a separate car with a baseball bat, yelling “talk (trash) now” before striking Keyes.
An autopsy on Keyes concluded he died of massive internal injuries and made no mention about blows to the head, according to testimony from Branch's trial.
Benion's attorney, Van Richards, could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
Meanwhile Benion, who was 16 when charged, has been free on electronic home monitoring while his case is pending.
According to court documents, Benion graduated last month from an online school with a grade-point average of 3.24 on a scale of 4.