Judge: Batavia murder suspect statements allowed in court
A Kane County judge ruled Wednesday that statements made by a 26-year-old Batavia woman accused in the April 2012 stabbing death of her boyfriend can be admissible at trial.
The attorney for Latoya M. Baines, who faces murder charges in the death of her boyfriend, Gerald J. Jackson, 25, argued last week that Baines did not voluntarily talk to police.
Baines also said she was bipolar, but only after she was informed she was going to be charged with murder, a Batavia police detective testified last week.
Judge Susan Clancy Boles disagreed with arguments put forth by defense attorney Sandra Byrd that Baines did not fully understand her rights, was shuffled from cell to cell and had a lack of sleep and food.
"She does not appear manic, incoherent or nonresponsive in any of the interviews," Boles said. "The court found no physical or mental condition that would make her incapable of understanding those rights."
Baines was questioned in four separate interviews over a five-hour span after her arrest.
The video recorded interviews were not played in court, but reviewed by Boles privately.
Assistant State's Attorney Christine Bayer said Baines admitted to acts that caused the death of Jackson, but is arguing a case of self-defense.
"She said she was there, she had the knife," Bayer said of Baines on the police recording.
Baines has been held at the Kane County jail on $750,000 bail since her arrest outside of an apartment complex on the 1100 block of Wilson Street on the city's far east side.
She must post $75,000 to be released while the case is pending, and faces between 20 and 60 years in prison if convicted.
The death of Jackson, who had two children with Baines, was the first murder in Batavia since 2004.
Prosecutors have said Baines stabbed Jackson because she suspected he was cheating on her.
Byrd could not immediately be reached for comment.