Prosecutor: 'Sucker punch' led to man's death in Palatine
Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Mike Gerber minced no words describing to jurors what authorities believe happened to Ryan Flannigan when an altercation outside a Palatine bar turned deadly.
Michael Platt "took his fist and with full force as (Flannigan) was looking in another direction slammed his fist into his left temple," Gerber said today during opening statements in Platt's murder trial.
A defense attorney told jurors Platt feared for a friend's safety after a late-night exchange between two separate groups last July outside Pop's Bar and Grill grew heated.
Police described the blow, which Gerber called a "sucker punch," as unprovoked. It caused Flannigan, a Palatine resident and branch manager for ABC Supply Co., to fall and strike his head on the pavement. He never regained consciousness and died from his injuries 10 days later.
Gerber told jurors Platt walked away gloating, saying, "He's not going to get up now."
Platt, 36, is charged with first-degree murder. If convicted, the Palatine resident faces up to 60 years in prison.
Defense attorney Pamela Curran called the charges "overzealous" for what she acknowledged was a horrible tragedy.
"His (Flannigan's) family wants someone to be punished. His friends want someone to be punished. The state's attorney wants someone to be punished," Curran said.
She said Platt feared his friend, who has a disability and uses prosthetic legs, was in danger from members of the group, some of whom were Flannigan's friends. That included two brothers who she said had been escorted from the bar for rowdy behavior.
"There was no way (Platt) intended to kill or knew his fist would cause the death of another," she said.
If he had, he would have left the scene, Curran said, but instead police found him at a nearby bar with some friends a short time later.
Gerber said the state does not have to prove Platt intended to kill Flannigan. But if a reasonable person knowingly commits an act that could result in great bodily harm or death and does, "that's first-degree murder," he said.
Ryan's mother, Debra Flannigan, testified she and daughter Carly met Ryan at Pop's about 8 p.m. July 18, for dinner. They left about 90 minutes later, leaving Ryan to join a group of friends, including Jon Stegall, a pal since grade school. The group included some people who arrived at the bar after attending the funeral of a friend early that day.
Among them were brothers who Stegall said were asked to leave the bar after they became disruptive between 10:30 and 11 p.m.
Several witnesses who followed the brothers outside and across the street testified to what happened next. They say one of the brothers began yelling.
"He was rather upset toward Pop's and the bouncer," said Kyle Andreoni, who said he tried to calm the man.
A friend of Platt's, who was on his way to his car and another man, approached, said Andreoni, adding, "We explained to them, emotions were high. ... Give us some space."
That was when Flannigan and Stegall exited the bar, he said. Shortly after, the car owner approached them again, encountering Mia Nunez, who testified she told him their friend was grieving and they weren't looking for trouble. She said she offered to walk him to his car.
Stegall said Ryan Flannigan attempted to play peacemaker and "defuse everything."
"Next thing, I saw Ryan get punched in the face. It was a cheap shot. ... Ryan had his attention on Mia. He had no idea what was about to happen," said Stegall, who identified Platt as the attacker from a police photo lineup.
The impact was such that Flannigan went limp and fell backward without attempting to brace himself, Stegall said.
Under cross examination by defense attorney Sam Amirante, some prosecution witnesses admitted they had been at the bar since 3 p.m. that afternoon and did not recall how much they had to drink.
Testimony continues Wednesday.