Man accused in Vernon Hills murder forced into court
The man accused of killing a Vernon Hills woman briefly refused to come to a Lake County court appearance Tuesday, but later showed up when a judge said he must attend.
Daniel Baker, 23, of Deerfield, faces up to life in prison if convicted in the April 1, 2010 beating death of Marina Aksman, 50.
Police said Baker was enraged that Aksman was trying to end his relationship with her 21-year-old daughter, Kristina Aksman, and the couple was found five days after the slaying in northern Montana.
Assistant State's Attorney Patricia Fix said Baker originally told officers at the Lake County jail, where he is held without bond, that he was not going to go to Circuit Judge Fred Foreman's courtroom.
Foreman told defense attorney Blair Dalton to go to the jail and talk to her client, Fix said, and Baker was brought into the courtroom about one hour later.
Fix said Baker explained that he believed he had been told it was not necessary for him to be in court Tuesday.
Once Baker was there, Foreman agreed to postpone a hearing into the defense motion to bar Baker's confession from being used against him at trial.
The hearing, which had been scheduled to start on Tuesday, was rescheduled for Jan. 31.