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Judge: Lawyers for Waukegan man facing murder charges can argue self-defense

A Lake County judge ruled Tuesday that defense lawyers for a Waukegan man accused of shooting and killing a 24-year-old woman will be allowed to argue he did it in self-defense.

Farid S. Rakin, 51, faces murder charges stemming from the shooting death of Ciera Davis during a confrontation at a house party in June 2017.

Rakin's defense team filed a motion Tuesday to allow lawyers to argue Rakin feared for his life when he shot Davis.

At a hearing Tuesday afternoon, Judge Patricia Fix chided attorneys Jeff Facklam and Katherine Hatch for waiting so long to file the motion, calling the delay "stupefying."

The trial is set to begin Monday.

Assistant State's Attorney Jim Newman said the prosecution would not ask that the trial be delayed.

Rakin has been confined to the Lake County jail since being arrested in Wisconsin in August 2017.

Fix ordered both sides to return to her courtroom Friday for final preparations.

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