Judge mulls new trial for dad in family slayings

JOLIET — A judge is considering granting a new trial to a 37-year-old suburban Chicago man convicted of murdering his wife and three children.

Judge Daniel Rozak said Monday that he will decide Tuesday whether Christopher Vaughn deserves a new trial or whether to proceed with sentencing Vaughn for his existing murder convictions. He faces a mandatory life term if his convictions stand.

Vaughn’s attorney, George Lenard, told the judge Monday that his client deserves a new trial, in part because of the Drew Peterson trial.

Lenard says the behavior of Peterson’s attorneys in front of the cameras made jurors think less of all defense attorneys, including Vaughn’s. The trials coincided and were both held in Joliet.

Vaughn was convicted in September of murdering his wife and three children in 2007.