Man accused in 5 downstate slayings to appear in court

LINCOLN -- The man accused of killing five people in a central Illinois farming town is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon.

Relatives of Christopher Harris say they also plan to show up and offer their support. They insist Harris is innocent.

Harris was arrested last week and charged with killing Raymond and Ruth Gee and three of their children in the town of Beason, which is about 35 miles northeast of Springfield.

The 30-year-old Harris was once married to Raymond Gee's daughter Nicole, who was not a victim of the attack. They have two children and relatives say they recently got back together.

Harris has been transferred to a jail in Bloomington, but the hearing is supposed to take place in Lincoln.