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Judge denies change of venue motion in Palatine murder case

A Cook County judge on Monday denied a request to change the location of the trial of Michael Platt, the Palatine man charged with first-degree murder in the death last July of 26-year-old Ryan Flannigan, also from Palatine.

Authorities say Platt, 35, punched Flannigan in the head about 11:30 p.m. July 18 outside a Palatine bar after an altercation involving Platt and another man. Police say the punch was unprovoked and Flannigan was not involved in the altercation.

Witnesses, including Flannigan's sister Courtney Flannigan, say he was attempting to defuse the situation when he was struck. The blow caused him to fall to the ground and hit his head on the sidewalk. He died 10 days later without regaining consciousness.

Attorneys for Platt requested a change of venue for his trial, but Cook County Judge Thomas Fecarotta found that press coverage of the case has not been excessive and would not prevent Platt from receiving a fair trial, prosecutors said.

If convicted, he could be sentenced up to 60 years in prison. He next appears on court on Feb. 2.

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Ryan Flannigan
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