Jury selection to continue in Sheley murder trial

GALESBURG\ — The attorney for Nicholas Sheley (SHEE’-lee), an Illinois man accused of killing eight people during a 2008 crime spree that spanned two states, has exhausted his peremptory challenges of people he does not want to serve on a jury.

Defense attorney Jeremy Karlin on Tuesday used the last of his client’s seven peremptory challenges. He asked Knox County Circuit Judge James Stewart for five additional challenges, citing the high volume of pre-trial publicity.

However, prosecutors argued the court has gone to great lengths to ensure fair jurors are selected.

Stewart said he would rule on the additional peremptory challenges Wednesday.

Four more jurors and four alternates must be sworn in before the trial of Sheley can begin. He is charged with bludgeoning Galesburg native Randall to death in 2008.