Man’s third murder trial in burrito restaurant case postponed to next week

The third trial of Kenneth E. Smith, 35, of Park City, for the 2001 murder of a McHenry burrito restaurant owner has been postponed until Feb. 14.

Smith’s first two convictions were overturned and scheduling issues from witnesses out of state has delayed the trial in Woodstock this time around.

Lakemoor businessman Raul Briseno was shot and killed on March 6, 2001, as he and another man chased two would-be robbers from a Burrito Express restaurant Briseno owned in McHenry.

Justin Houghtaling, 30, of Round Lake Beach, received the minimum 20-year sentence for murder for agreeing to testify against Smith. But he later recanted his story and was convicted of perjury.

The trial is expected to last more than a week.