Special prosecutor picked in Daley nephew’s case

The mother of a Mount Prospect man killed eight years ago during an altercation with a relative of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley said she was “very happy” with the selection Monday of prominent attorney Dan Webb as a special prosecutor to investigate the death.

“I think he’ll look at it fairly,” Nanci Koschman said. “And I really just want closure. I just want to put my head down at night and know that somebody has looked at it with a fresh pair of eyes and (that) it was handled properly.”

Cook County Judge Michael Toomin appointed Webb to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of David Koschman and subsequent police investigation that led to no charges being brought in the case. David Koschman, 24, died in 2004 from injuries suffered when he was knocked to the ground during a confrontation with Daley nephew Richard Vanecko outside a Chicago bar.

Koschman’s mother fought for years to have a special prosecutor appointed to the case because she believed political influence may have played a role in the decision not to charge Vanecko.

She said she was unaware of Webb’s reputation before his appointment Monday.

“Everybody was sending me emails and notes. So I really learned more about him today than I had known in the past,” she said. “I am not that political of a person, so I did not really get that involved in things. Even my attorney said he thinks it’s a good choice, because (Webb) will look at it with a very fair eye, so I guess that’s all I can ask, that he takes everything into consideration and makes his decision.”

Koschman said because of work she was unable to be in court Monday for Webb’s appointment.

“I guess I just have to leave it in his capable hands now,” she said. “He certainly has a reputation for getting things done. Hopefully some good will come out of this.”

Ÿ Daily Herald wire services contributed to this report