[ad_1]
On Friday in Woodstock, in front of the crowded courtroom, Andrew "AJ" Freund's 5-year-old parents pleaded not guilty to dozens of charges related to the death of their son. latest.
Each parent, Andrew Freund and JoAnn Cunningham, have asked to be tried by a jury on several charges of murder, body concealment and aggravated domestic violence against a child under 13 years of age. They face 41 charges.
Rita Gara, deputy state prosecutor for McHenry County, could be sentenced to life in prison for life sentence.
Cunningham, 36, entered the courtroom with her lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Rick Behof, and two officers from the emergency response team. Emergency wearing bulletproof vests.
While one of the CERT agents was scanning the room several times, Justice Robert Wilbrandt of McHenry County read the charges, including three counts of murder. Gara then read the indictment against him for 20 counts of indictment and the ranges of penalties that could be imposed on Cunningham, visibly pregnant, who was standing in front of the judge, head bowed.
Freund, 60, was then brought into the courtroom with his lawyer, special public defender Henry Sugden and the two CERT officers. Once again, the CERT officer scanned the room and Wilbrandt informed Freund of his charges, including three murder charges. Gara then read the indictment of 21 counts of indictment and possible ranges of penalties. The additional charge against Freund is disorderly conduct.
When Freund entered the courtroom, a woman tried to brandish a picture of AJ but was quickly notified by the judge and a court representative.
In addition to the charges related to AJ's death, each parent is also charged with aggravated assault and bodily harm for the alleged beating at AJ in March that was found on Cunningham's mobile phone.
READ MORE: Aj Freund's DCFS investigators were overloaded with cases before the boy was killed.
The indictments also include counts of irresponsible behavior, unlawful coercion and endangering a child for an incident that allegedly took place between September 20, 2018 and April 17, 2019. Heads of Prosecution claim that the parents "caused or allowed" AJ to be "hit on or around her body".
Sugden also asked Wilbrandt to rule on his motion for injunction, stating that the case had too much publicity. Cunningham's lawyers have asked to join this request.
Wilbrandt stated that Sugden's request was too broad. He suggested that the lawyer file it again. Sugden said that he was only asking that the "agents" related to the case, including the police and the FBI, not make statements out of court.
"I will not accept the motion as it stands," Wilbrandt said. "I think it's too wide. I want to balance the rights of the defendant and the rights of the public under the First Amendment. "
Wilbrandt granted Freund's motion for a psychological assessment and two telephone calls.
AJ Freund, who was the subject of several police calls and numerous visits to the DCFS during his short life, was found buried in a shallow grave a few days after Freund made a fake call at 911, stating that he was missing, according to the authorities. The boy was forced to take a cold shower and beat to death on April 15, authorities said. His body was kept in a bag in the basement of the family home of Dole Avenue until two days later Freund moved him and buried him in a field in Woodstock. .
Come back for updates.
Amanda Marrazzo is an independent journalist.
Read more local news ยป
[ad_2]
Source link