Pretrial hearing held in Illinois murder case

JONESBORO, Ill. -- One of the suspects in an Anna, Illinois, homicide was in court again Tuesday for a pretrial hearing.

Travis Turner, 26, of Dongola, Illinois, faces first-degree murder charges in the April 2014 beating death of James H. "Jimmy" Morrison, 46, of Anna. Turner has pleaded not guilty.

At the hearing, public defender J. Jeremy Lloyd said he had not yet filed pretrial motions but anticipated many would be standard, such as requests to allow Turner to appear in his own clothing and without handcuffs.

"There may be some others, but I'm not sure yet," Lloyd told Judge Mark Boie.

Morrison was found early April 12 outside a house on Douglas Street in Anna and later pronounced dead at Union County Hospital.

Turner and Jessie Bell, 35, of Anna are accused of beating Morrison to death and are being tried separately. Bell allegedly struck Morrison in the head with his fists, and Turner allegedly hit him in the head with a piece of lumber.

In Illinois, first-degree murder usually is punishable by 20 to 60 years in prison, but the penalty can go up to natural life in prison. Illinois law requires those convicted of murder to serve 100 percent of their sentences.

Boie set another pretrial hearing for April 28 to allow time for motions to be filed in preparation for the June 22 trial date.

Turner remains in custody.

kwebster@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

Market Street, Jonesboro, Illinois

Anna, Illinois

Dongola, Illinois