Murder trial begins in Kane County Wednesday

The driver accused of killing a Batavia man and his dog as they walked on a sidewalk last summer is scheduled to stand trial on murder charges next week in Kane County.

Edward O. Cook, 25, is charged with 11 counts of first-degree murder, 15 counts of aggravated driving under the influence, 10 counts of burglary and one count of possession of a converted motor vehicle in the death of 57-year-old David Long of Batavia. If convicted of murder, the Aurora man faces at least 20 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Long and his dog were struck and killed by a white Acura driven by Cook about 6:40 a.m. July 29, 2009, as they walked along the 1000 block of Woodland Hills Road, not far from Long's home.

Cook, whose driver's license was suspended at the time for a prior DUI conviction, is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, with marijuana and cocaine in his system. He also is accused of driving a vehicle that did not belong to him, the result of an earlier burglary, according to prosecutors.

Police have said Cook ran from the scene without offering aid, and later admitted he had smoked two marijuana "blunts" and drank two beers and a shot of cognac in the hours before the fatal crash.

He was indicted by a grand jury less than a month later.

Illinois law supports murder charges in deaths that occur as a result of a "forcible felony" when there's intent of committing a second felony. In this case, a burglary was committed with the intent to commit aggravated driving under the influence, Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti has said.

"The unique facts and circumstances of this situation support bringing this prosecution," Barsanti said last August. "I think it's necessary."

Cook's bench trial is scheduled to begin Wednesday in front of Judge T. Jordan Gallagher at the courthouse in St. Charles.

Neither Cook, who has been held in the county jail on $750,000 bond since his arrest, nor Public Defender David Kliment, who represents him, responded to requests for comment.

Attempts to reach the Long family also were unsuccessful.