Bond modified in Zion slaying case
Because witnesses in the Zion New Year's Day killing have received threatening phone calls related to their potential testimony, Assistant State's Attorney Pat Fix asked the court to modify the bond of the accused killer at his arraignment Wednesday. She told the News-Sun that she could not elaborate on the nature of the threats.
Joseph Murray, 32, was arrested for allegedly killing Curtis Pride due to jealousy over a woman, according to Zion police. Pride was found shot to death Jan. 1 in the 2700 block of Galilee Avenue.
Murray is being held in lieu of a $3 million bond. Judge Daniel Shanes modified his bond conditions so that he is allowed no contact with three of the state's witnesses, which include a 13-year-old eyewitness to the slaying and some of the victim's relatives, Fix said.
Murray pleaded not guilty to three counts against him presented at his arraignment.
He pleaded not guilty to six counts of first-degree murder. He could serve 45 years to life for the first three counts and 20 to 60 years in prison for the other three counts, Shanes said. Because it is a murder charge, Shanes said he would have to serve 100 percent of his sentence if found guilty.
He is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and aggravated fleeing a police officer for a Dec. 30, 2009 incident. He is said to have been driving when an officer gave him a visual signal to pull over in Zion. Rather than pull over, he attempted to elude the officer. He was found with a gun and .38-caliber bullets.
Murray is also charged with aggravated battery for allegedly grabbing a hospital worker around the neck on Dec. 24, 2009. Zion police arrested him for this incident, according to court computer records.
He was on parole when he committed the alleged offenses, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections. He was paroled Nov. 3, 2009, for felony escape of a police officer in Lake County from a 2001 offense, according to the DOC Web site. He also served four years in prison for aggravated discharge of a firearm and was taken into custody for that in 1996, according to the DOC Web site.
Murray is represented by his attorney, Louis Pissios.
He is due back in court March 9 and his trial is scheduled for March 22.
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