New trial uncertain in Clinton Lake drownings

CLINTON -- His attorney says Maurice LaGrone Jr. will have to wait several more weeks before he finds out if he will be granted a new trial for the murders of his former girlfriend's three young children.

LaGrone's defense attorney, Richard Goff, asked Thursday for time to file a response to the state's arguments against a new trial.

LaGrone was convicted in 2006 by a McLean County jury of the 2003 drowning deaths of the three children in Clinton Lake. He is serving life in prison.

Amanda Hamm, the children's mother, was found guilty of the far less serious offense of child endangerment.

LaGrone now contends he received ineffective assistance from his original lawyer, who did not ask that the jury be allowed to consider child endangerment as a possible verdict.