Judge suppresses suspect's statements in Deerfield murder

Statements made by Marni Yang while in police custody in early 2008 are not admissible in her murder trial, a Lake County judge ruled Friday.

Associate Judge Christopher Stride ruled on a defense motion to suppress the statements made by Yang, the Chicago woman charged with the murder of Rhoni Reuter and intentional homicide of an unborn child in the 2007 slayings.

Reuter, who was pregnant at the time, was shot as she opened the door to her Deerfield apartment. Former Chicago Bears safety Shaun Gayle was the father of the unborn child.

“Judge Stride granted the motion to suppress the statements, so all of the statements made by Miss Yang from Jan. 4, (2008) through and including Jan. 6 of 2008 will not be admissible at trial unless she testifies as a witness,” Assistant State's Attorney Ari Fisz said.

“If she testifies as a witness, then we can use those statements if they become relevant during the course of her testimony.”

Yang's defense asked that the statements be suppressed because they claimed she was denied the right to call her attorney.

Meanwhile, Fisz said Yang did not confess while in police custody in January 2008.

“She never confessed to committing the crime, but those statements are going to be suppressed nonetheless,” Fisz said.

She was released from custody without being charged.

Yang, 43, was arrested more than a year later after police secretly tape-recorded her discussing the killings with a friend.

Prosecutors say Yang was jealous of Reuter's relationship with Gayle.

Suppresses: Statements could be used if Yang testifies