Defense witness stresses self-defense claim

Robert Young's attorneys called just one witness in his defense Thursday, in testimony designed to bolster his claim of self-defense in the 2006 death of Buffalo Grove's Catonis "Tony" Jones and Sharmaine "Cookie" Gregory.

Assistant public defenders Jim Mullenix and Bernard Sarley called Gregory's 19-year-old son Tywune Kennedy, who testified to previous altercations between the men.

In his opening statement, Sarley talked about the volatile relationship between Young, 32, and Jones, 39, both of whom used and sold drugs. Witness James Stevens described an altercation between the two men that took place on the night before the murders, a night during which he, Young and Jones spent hours smoking crack at Jones' apartment, while Gregory, 42, slept in another room.

Kennedy testified Thursday that he was visiting his mother and Jones on the day before Thanksgiving last year when Young showed up at the door. Young and Jones argued in the hallway about a laptop computer, Kennedy said, and Jones grabbed Young's shirt and held a knife to his throat.

His testimony seemingly supports statements Young made in an interview with Waukegan Police Detective Domenic Cappelluti, a member of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force. In a videotaped statement, Young said Jones had threatened him with a knife prior to the murders. He also said the men argued the night of the murders and that Jones came at Young with a knife, cutting his thumb.

During cross-examination, Cappelluti testified that during their interview, Young said Jones apologized and helped bandage Young's wound. Investigators later recovered a gauze-type bandage from the scene, the detective said.

Cappelluti also said that Young told him Gregory "came out of nowhere" and hit him with something while he and Jones struggled.

Under further questioning from Assistant State's Attorney Marilyn Hite-Ross, Cappelluti also said he saw no sign, aside from Young's cutup hands, that the defendant had suffered any other injuries.

Thursday's proceedings included testimony from Clare Cunliffe, a forensic pathologist formerly with the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office who conducted the autopsies. Jones sustained approximately 60 stab wounds to the head, neck and upper back and arms, Cunliffe said, as well as defensive wounds to the hands and arms.

Gregory received approximately 46 stab wounds, including one to the jugular vein which caused extensive bleeding. Her body also showed evidence of defensive wounds.

Cunliffe also testified that Jones' toxicology report indicated he had ingested cocaine around the time of the murder, as well as at some earlier point. Gregory's toxicology reports were negative.

During his cross-examination, Mullenix showed Cunliffe photos of the cuts on Young's hands which she testified could also be defensive wounds

Closing arguments begin at 11 a.m. Friday in Rolling Meadows courtroom 109.