Sentencing delayed in burning of Elgin woman

Christine Espinosa will have to wait a little longer to learn the prison sentence of the man convicted of dousing her in rubbing alcohol and setting her on fire.

In June, a Rolling Meadows jury convicted Espinosa's ex-husband Jose Marquez, 34, of heinous battery in the incident which occurred last October in the couple's Elgin home. Cook County Circuit Court Judge James Etchingham intended to impose Marquez's sentence Friday morning.

However, defense attorney David Corbett requested the court delay the sentencing and order a psychiatric evaluation of his client whose fitness Corbett now questions after receiving letters from two Cook County Jail inmates expressing concern over Marquez's mental health. Corbett tendered copies of those letters to the court and to prosecutors.

"I'm taken by surprise," said Etchingham adding that the defense never raised the issue of fitness or sanity at trial and that Marquez appeared at all times to be lucent, coherent and comprehending.

That said, Etchingham ordered psychiatrists from Forensic Clinical Services to examine Marquez, of the 1200 block of Blackhawk Drive, before next month's hearing. By that time, the court also expects to have the defendant's pre-sentence report which was not available Friday.

Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Shilpa Patel had no objection to defense's motion so long as it indicated "a bona fide doubt raised" as to Marquez's fitness to be sentenced.

Espinosa declined to comment after the hearing. Corbett, who said he shared Etchingham's surprise at the turn of events, said he intends to do everything he can to resolve the situation justly.

"This whole series of events has been a tragedy for both families," he said.

Marquez next appears in court on Aug. 20.