Witness contradicts himself in Gurnee road rage case
A man who admitted his role in a 2005 road rage beating death in Gurnee changed his story about the actions of another man while on the witness stand Tuesday.
As part of a plea deal, Gregory McKnight, 32, was expected to testify Tuesday that William Pressley, 29, of Waukegan, was one of three men who beat Jesus Gaytan, 26, of Waukegan. The attack occurred after Gaytan struck a car McKnight and Pressley were in and drove away.
McKnight testified he exited the car with Pressley and another passenger, Terrance Woods, to confront Gaytan. McKnight admitted he and Woods struck and kicked Gaytan. However, he said he only saw Pressley "wrestling" with Gaytan while both were on the ground.
That conflicts with a sworn statement McKnight gave prosecutors last November, cementing the plea deal that saw him sentenced to 19 years in prison.
At that time, McKnight confirmed the prosecution's version of the events, and was told he could make any corrections to the statement he wished.
Tuesday, Assistant State's Attorney Veronica O'Malley presented McKnight with that statement. She directed him to the portion where it says McKnight saw Pressley strike Gaytan at least eight times in the head and ribs with his fists.
She then asked McKnight how he could testify he never saw Pressley punch Gaytan when he had signed the statement.
"Oh yeah, I should have corrected that part," McKnight responded. "You coached me to say that."
O'Malley denied she had told McKnight what to say in his statement, and reminded him his plea agreement can be withdrawn if he does not testify truthfully in the proceedings against Pressley.
McKnight is one of two men who agreed to testify against Pressley in exchange for the chance to plead guilty to second-degree murder and serve less time in prison.
Defense attorney Thomas Briscoe of Waukegan welcomed the conflict in the state's case, having told the jury of seven men and five women McKnight and Woods were the "real killers" in his opening statement.
"The state's case is based entirely on what we call 'flippers,'" Briscoe said. "They will do anything they have to to save their necks, and they have every reason to put it on William Pressley."
The attack took place after all four men left the former Greenleaf Tavern in Park City in the early morning hours of Sept. 22, 2005.
Gaytan, who was drunk and driving without license, drove into the rear of McKnight's vehicle at Greenleaf Avenue and Washington Street and sped away.
McKnight and the others chased Gaytan to a parking lot in an industrial area off Delany Road in Gurnee. Gaytan's body was found there the next morning.
Woods, who also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 18 years in prison, is scheduled to testify today.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Pressley faces a sentence of 20 to 60 years.