Court asked to review ruling in Ill. assault case

PEORIA -- Prosecutors are urging the Illinois Supreme Court to review an appeals court ruling that overturned a former Peoria attorney's sexual assault conviction.

The 3rd U.S. District Court of Appeals in Ottawa ruled last month that a child psychologist's testimony in the trial of Robert Becker should not have been barred by a Peoria County judge.

The psychologist was to testify for the defense about the reliability of the alleged victim's statements.

The State Appellate Prosecutor's Office, which asked for the ruling review on Thursday, says allowing the testimony would have went against a 1990 Illinois Supreme Court decision cautioning against such expert testimony.

Becker has been convicted twice for the alleged assault of the then-3-year-old girl in 2003, but appeals judges have reversed the convictions.