Jury: Lake Co. man not guilty of attempted murder

After more than seven hours of deliberations Wednesday, a jury delivered a not guilty verdict on the more serious charges against Christopher Schnider and found him guilty on two counts of criminal sexual assault, one count of aggravated domestic battery, and one count of domestic battery.

Schnider, 37, had also been charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated domestic battery after he was accused of repeatedly beating, raping and attempting to kill his fiancee.

Schnider wept openly in court as the verdict was read to end the two-week-long trial.

Circuit Judge George Bridges revoked Schnider's $10 million bond and ordered that he undergo evaulations for mental health, substance abuse and to determine whether he's a sex offender.

Sentencing will be at 9 a.m. Sept. 4. He faces four to 15 years in prison. He's still restricted from having any contact with the victim.

Jury deliberations began around 4 p.m. after closing arguments by attorneys in the trial of the Antioch Township man.

The lesser charge of domestic battery was also included Wednesday.

In closing arguments, Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Victor O'Block told the jury of eight women and four men that Schnider had "beaten, bruised, bloodied and broken" his 26-year-old victim, with whom he was living for nearly 10 years and had fathered four children.

He told jurors to consider the medical evidence offered by the doctor and nurse who treated the victim after the attack and the numerous photos taken by police showing her injuries, including where a saw blade was pressed against her neck, leaving a 4 mm mark.

"You've seen the pictures. The pictures don't lie," O'Block said.

He said Schnider wielded a baseball bat to shatter the victim's arm in seven places as she tried to protect herself and beat her repeatedly with it while she was on the ground.

The victim underwent four surgeries for the broken arm. She also had a dislocated elbow and numerous cuts and bruises.

O'Block said Schnider duct-taped and belted the victim's arms together and taped her mouth before eventually untying and raping her, and threatened to kill her twice, according to the victim's sworn statement.

"He was her fiance. He became her tormentor and abuser as he attempted to kill her," he said. "You've got to break the cycle of violence. It's got to be done today."

The victim sat expressionless in the audience with her arms crossed during the trial. She was not present for the verdict.

Lake County Assistant Public Defender Sharmila Manak later argued there is no medical evidence or testimony to support the claim Schnider intended to kill the victim or that he raped her.

O'Block told jurors Schnider influenced and controlled the victim even from his Lake County jail cell and convinced her to make up a story about how she grabbed a knife from the kitchen during their fight. In a recorded telephone conversation played in court, one of more than 500 between Schnider and the victim, he could be heard telling her to leave town, which she did, defying a court-ordered subpoena.

"So much does he control her that even though she's under a lawful court order to come here, she flees the state," O'Block said.

In her testimony Tuesday, the victim recanted what she told doctors and nurses at Condell Medical Center in Libertyville and police about being raped while being treated for her injuries a day after the attack and later in a sworn statement. She said Tuesday the sex was consensual but had earlier told Lake County sheriff's police she had sex with Schnider because she didn't know what would happen to her if she didn't.

"She told different stories, slightly different, but mostly consistent," O'Block said.

Manak told jurors they can't pick and choose what they want to believe about the victim's testimony.

The victim testified Tuesday she and Schnider drank two half-gallon bottles of Tequilla Rose that night before getting into an argument. The victim admitted on the stand to grabbing a kitchen knife and physically fighting with Schnider. She also said the two made up and had "consensual sex."

"The evidence is clear," Manak said. "He (Schnider) is guilty of aggravated domestic battery. He hit her with a bat."

Manak said Schnider is not guilty of attempted murder or rape.

"It's not a plan that failed because he never planned to kill her," Manak said. "The only injury she had was a fractured arm broken in seven places. If he intended to kill her, at 240 pounds with a 109-pound woman, the injuries would have been much more significant. If he intended to kill her at that moment, he would have. He could have."