Murder suspect ignores lawyer's advice, speaks out

"Stop. Talking. Now."

Assistant Public Defender James Mullenix uttered that advice sotto voce to his client, Jonathon Wood, Thursday during a hearing on charges that Wood murdered his mother at her Elk Grove Village home.

Wood ignored him. Repeatedly.

He also disregarded the advice of Cook County Judge Joseph Urso, who agreed with Mullenix that the defendant's interests were best served having Mullenix speak for him, but the judge permitted Wood to state his case.

"If you wish to say something, I will allow you to do so," Urso said.

Wood, 39, faces first-degree murder and concealment of a homicide charges in the October, 2008 death of his mother Marilyn, who was found bound and beaten in her home. Wood, who lived with his mother in the 1500 block of White Trail until a month before her death, had plenty to say.

"I need you to know that I'm wrongfully accused in this case," said Wood, after asking to address the court pro se or on his own behalf. A pro se defendant acts as his or her own lawyer.

Urso declined to recognize Wood as pro se, but allowed him to continue.

He first requested a reduction in his $3 million bond, saying he had been denied his constitutional rights and due process. He also claimed the state fabricated evidence and "slandered me in the press." In a choked voice, he declared that he had been unable to mourn his mother, who he suggested suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Lastly, he claimed the proceedings have cost him his livelihood and his advertising business, which has resulted in multimillion dollar losses to his advertisers.

"I understand your concern," said Urso, "but it doesn't change the fact that you have a trained attorney and he's proceeding in your best interest."

"There is no hybrid representation," said Urso, who instructed Mullenix to make any future motions on Wood's behalf until Wood hires a private attorney or is granted leave to proceed as his own attorney.

The state's attorney's office hasn't yet decided whether to prosecute Marilyn Wood's murder as a capital case. That decision could come within the next few months, said Assistant State's Attorney Steven Rosenblum.

Wood next appears in court April 9.