Round Lake Beach homicide suspect's family provides alibi

Priest Little was visiting family members in Zion around the same time prosecutors claim he was selling heroin in Round Lake Beach, his relatives testified Thursday.

Little, 34, is on trial before Lake County Circuit Judge Fred Foreman for drug-induced homicide in the Dec. 26 death of Danielle Nicholas, 20.

Several members of Little's family testified he was present at two family gatherings in Zion between 4:45 and 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Day.

Earlier in the trial, a woman testified she was with Nicholas when the victim bought the fatal dose of heroin from Little in a transaction that occurred between 11:30 p.m. and midnight at the house of Little's girlfriend in Round Lake Beach.

Fiona Jones, Little's sister, said her brother was among the guests at a dinner she hosted at her apartment in Zion. Little arrived around 4:45 p.m., Jones said, and left around 9:45 p.m. to go to his grandmother's house, also in Zion.

Falon Coleman, Little's cousin, said Little was leaving their grandmother's house when she arrived around 11:30 p.m., but he stayed and talked with her for awhile before departing.

Prosecutors say they have phone records showing there were five telephone calls between Nicholas and Little between 9 and 11:30 p.m. on Christmas.

Both Jones and Coleman testified they saw Little using the phone several times while they were with him.

Little faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.