Video taped statement won't be allowed in Brown's trial

Video-taped statements that James Degorski gave to police will not be heard in court during his upcoming trial for the murders of seven people at a Palatine restaurant in 1993 -- unless he takes the stand in his own defense.

Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan ruled this afternoon that prosecutors will not be allowed to show the tape to jurors unless Degorski takes the stand. That is not typical for a defendant in such a high-stakes case.

Yet police will be allowed to testify about statements Degorski made to them that were not videotaped. Degorski was arrested in 2002, nearly a decade after the killings at the Brown's Chicken and Pasta restaurant.

He is the second man to be tried in the case. His friend and former classmate, Juan Luna, was convicted of the slayings in May and sentenced to life in prison.

Degorski contends he was coerced by police into confessing while being held in custody for two days Prosecutors deny that, saying Degorski was treated well and could have refused to answer questions or asked for a lawyer.

On Friday, Judge Gaughan also denied a defense request to overturn Degorski's 2002 arrest.

Degorski has pleaded not guilty.