Prosecutors, defense present different versions of Naperville man's death
When Charles Clark signed the lease agreement allowing Grant Muren to move into his Naperville townhouse, he had no idea he was getting what authorities called the "roommate from hell."
But prosecutors say he found out within hours when Muren started choking him, ultimately killing him.
Muren, 24, is now standing trial charged with first-degree murder, concealment of a homicide and aggravated arson in the Jan. 20, 2014, strangulation of Clark, 55, in Clark's townhouse on the 1100 block of Vail Court.
Muren's defense attorney says Muren is responsible for Clark's death but acted only in self-defense.
Assistant State's Attorney Dave Friedland said in court Tuesday that Clark placed an ad for a roommate to help defray the costs of living in the townhouse after his mother's death. Shortly after meeting Muren, both men signed the lease and went shopping.
"They came back, had some food and a couple of drinks, and a few hours later Clark was dead," Friedland said. "And he was dead because of a severe beating imposed by the defendant."
Friedland said Muren also robbed Clark of the $900 security deposit and first month's rent that Muren had just paid. He then put the rental agreement in the oven, turned on the gas and stuffed magazines in the toaster in an attempt to "blow the place up," Friedland said.
Clark's body was discovered days later in an upstairs bedroom by his girlfriend.
Muren's attorney, Michael Gillespie, told Judge Brian Telander that Muren is responsible for Clark's death but not guilty of his murder.
"Grant was justified acting the way he did when he defended himself," Gillespie said. "This young man was beaten within an inch of his life, and (Clark) was highly intoxicated."
Gillespie said Clark, whose blood alcohol level was .167, attacked Muren while the men were drinking and after telling Muren he had to leave. He said Clark bit Muren several times and attempted to gouge his eyes out. Muren then choked Clark, Gillespie said, but didn't know he had killed him.
Gillespie said Muren made "stupid" and "silly" decisions after killing Clark when he attempted to start a fire.
"He wasn't trying to blow the place up. He was trying to rid that apartment of him being there," Gillespie said. "He was scared as hell and just wanted to get out of there."
As testimony began, Steven Barr, of Maui, told of the month he sublet a room to Muren for about a month in 2012 in St. Charles.
Barr said Muren had been renting the room for about a month on the early morning he came home from his bartending job and encountered an "over-friendly" and "intoxicated" Muren on the front steps of the house. Barr described how the night's events went from annoying to a physical altercation that ultimately was "mediated" by police.
Barr said police took Muren to a nearby hotel to "cool off" but Muren returned to the house about an hour later demanding to be let in.
Barr let him back in but stayed awake on the couch for the remainder of the night.
"I was scared to go to sleep," Barr said, "I didn't know what he was going to do."
The next morning he changed the locks and obtained an order of protection and immediate eviction against Muren.
Charles Clark's estranged wife, Irene Clark, also testified Tuesday, telling Telander about her husband's "beautiful soul" and "peaceful demeanor."
She said they married in 1992 and separated in 2004 but never divorced. She said they maintained a friendship until Clark's death.
Defense attorneys pressed her, asking if her husband had had a violent temper that would become exasperated when he drank.
"I didn't know that Charles," she said. "I never saw that side of him."
The bench trial is expected to continue through Sept. 1. Muren has been held on $2 million bail since his arrest.