CONVICTION OVERTURNED IL - Pravin Varughese, 19, Siu Student, Carbondale, 12 Feb 2014

[Baciagalupo]

If you google the victims name there is a picture of him in the open casket. The marks are evident, I don't understand the result of the first autopsy. They should be investigated, all autopsys they did.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Attorney for suspect in Pravin Varughese death wants to move murder trial out of Jackson County

http://thesouthern.com/news/local/communities/carbondale/attorney-for-suspect-in-pravin-varughese-death-wants-to-move/article_401b00ff-3243-530f-9f78-f1b1baa7b440.html

A packed Jackson County Courtroom on Friday expected Circuit Judge Mark Clarke to set a trial date for Gaege Bethune, who is facing first-degree murder charges in the death of 19-year-old Pravin Varughese.

Instead, Bethune’s defense attorney, Michael Wepsiec, told the judge he was going to file a motion for a change of venue.

Clark set a case management conference to rule on the change of venue motion at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 16.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Murder trial in death of Pravin Varughese will stay in Jackson County ... for now

http://thesouthern.com/news/local/communities/carbondale/murder-trial-in-death-of-pravin-varughese-will-stay-in/article_0c28fbb5-a295-5c7e-9dd9-a95f97f582e2.html

The murder trial of the man accused in the death of Pravin Varughese, a 19-year-old Southern Illinois University student who was found dead in Carbondale four years ago Sunday, is set to begin June 4 in Jackson County.

The date was set during court proceedings Friday. Despite a motion from the defense to move the trial, it looks like the Jackson County Circuit Court is going to give the highly-publicized murder trial a go in its own county.

On the same day Bethune appeared in court, Varughese's family and friends gathered at the place where Varughese's body was found four years earlier, in order to hold a memorial service.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Trial set to start June 4 for man accused of killing SIU student Pravin Varughese in 2014

On Wednesday, Bethune’s attorney, Michael Wepseic, and state’s attorney's appellate prosecutor David Robinson checked off all the boxes needed to be ready for trial with Circuit Court Judge Mark Clarke.

As for plea deals, Robinson said there are no current plea deals on the table for Bethune. The defendant also said in open court he does not wish to pursue a deal as of Wednesday.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Trial set to start today

Murder trial set to begin in Jackson County

 

[JerseyGirl]

Opening statements scheduled to begin in Pravin Varughese murder trial Tuesday

 

[JerseyGirl]

A juror picked to hear the trial asked to be excused, delaying the start of testimony. The selection of a replacement alternate juror will take place Wednesday.

Juror's excusal delays trial of man in student's death

 

[JerseyGirl]

The judge dismissed a motion by Bethune’s lawyer Thursday for a mistrial.

Judge dismisses mistrial motion in Gaege Bethune murder trial

 

[JerseyGirl]

Closing arguments set in trial over SIU student’s death

The jury in Murphysboro will hear closing arguments Thursday.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Jury finds Gaege Bethune guilty of 1 count of first-degree murder in 2014 death of Pravin Varughese

Bethune had been charged with two counts of felony murder. In one charge, the state alleged Bethune punched Varughese in the head, causing great bodily harm. The prosecution argued Varughese's death was a direct and foreseeable consequence of that punch. The jury found Bethune guilty on that count.

The second charge had similar language, but alleged a robbery took place. The state argued that Varughese's death was a direct and foreseeable consequence of the robbery. The jury found Bethune not guilty on that charge.

The sentence in Illinois for first-degree murder is 20 to 60 years in prison. A sentencing date has not be determined.

The courtroom was full of emotion and tears on both sides of the aisle. Varughese died more than four years ago, and the case was full of ups and downs since he was first reported missing on Feb. 14, 2014.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

'He can now rest in peace': Mother of SIU murder victim says son's 'day finally came' after guilty verdict reached

“Pravin’s day finally came. He can rest in peace now,” his mother, Lovely Varughese, told the Tribune by phone from Carbondale early Friday morning.

When the verdict finally came down, “this was really overwhelming … it was very emotional,” Varughese said, noting there were tears flowing both families, hers and Bethune’s. The 23-year-old defendant had been free on bail while awaiting trial, but after he was convicted Thursday, his bond was revoked and he was taken to jail, Varughese said.

Throughout the trial, she said, Bethune's defense attorney, former Jackson County state’s attorney Michael Wepsiec, “just kept saying the family was supposed to accept (authorities’ findings). I’m like, no, my son’s name has to be proven.”

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Man convicted of murder in 2014 Varughese death set to be sentenced Aug. 15

Gaege Bethune, 23, was convicted after a nine-day trial on one count of first-degree murder predicated on aggravated battery for the 2014 death of Pravin Varughese, 19, of Morton Grove. A sentencing date has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15.

Before the sentencing date, however, Bethune’s defense attorney, Michael Wepsiec, has said publicly he has filed an appeal in the case asking for a new trial. A motion hearing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. on July 27.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

NBC's 'Dateline' set to air Varughese episode Monday

NBC's newsmagazine "Dateline" is set to air an episode Monday about the death of Pravin Varughese.

The episode will air on NBC at 9 p.m. Monday, July 23. NBC has titled the episode "A Good Son."

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

State accuses Bethune defense team of harassing juror after murder trial in Varughese death

According to documents filed Wednesday by Special Prosecutor David Robinson, the state is alleging inappropriate contact between Bethune’s defense team and a juror.

“The unsolicited contact with this juror has been made in three ways, on three separate occasions: (1) in person, by investigators for the defense (one of whom may have been armed), and subsequently, (2) by private Facebook messenger, and now, (3) by communication through the newspaper which appears to have been knowingly designed to harass or annoy said juror by misquoting the juror and taking statements made as part of the previous improper contact out of context,” the motion said.

No new trial for Gaege Bethune, the man convicted in the 2014 death of Pravin Varughese

In a post-trial motion hearing Friday, Judge Mark Clarke denied the state’s motion to to restrict the defense’s contact with jurors. The motion accused the defense team of harassing a juror several times. It also asked the court to have the defense route all future juror contact through the clerk’s office.

The court also heard arguments regarding the defense’s motion for a judgement notwithstanding the verdict — a move that could have vacated the jury’s finding — as well as a motion for a new trial.

Ultimately Clarke sided with the state. He said it was not his place to second-guess the weight jurors gave to evidence.

“I can’t tell them what they should believe or not believe,” he said.

Clarke added that some of the most damning evidence in the case was Bethune’s own often contradictory statements.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Bethune murder conviction sentencing postponed

Gaege Bethune was scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 15. But Monday, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Mark Clarke granted Gaege Bethune’s attorneys’ request for more time.

At a conference call on Monday, Clarke granted the defense motion for an extension. Sentencing has been rescheduled for Sept. 17.

 

[AmyPond]

I had the Dateline episode on my DVR and just watched it today. I will be curious to see how sentencing goes.

RIP Pravin

 

[JerseyGirl]

In an unexpected turn of events, a Southern Illinois judge vacated the guilty verdict of Gaege Bethune, the man convicted of murdering Southern Illinois University student Pravin Varughese.

Judge Mark Clark said he was vacating the verdict because some of the wording in Bethune’s indictment could have been confusing to jurors.

Bethune was scheduled to be sentenced Monday. Instead, he is now out on bond.

The judge has not set a new trial date yet. During the hearing, he said there was sufficient evidence to convict Bethune, and no one acted improperly in the first trial. While Bethune is out on bond, he can’t leave the state without the court’s permission.

Pravin Varughese's family prepares for new trial after Gaege Bethune verdict vacated

 

[JerseyGirl]

Attorneys are reviewing their options and hope by Friday or soon after to have reached a decision on how best to appeal what they described as the Judge's “mistake.” He said they could either take it to the Illinois 5th District Appellate Court, or directly to the state's Supreme Court.

Gaege Bethune is getting a new trial in the 2014 death of Pravin Varughese. What's next?

 

[JerseyGirl]

Friday’s bond revocation hearing for Gaege Bethune was canceled after the state and defense came to an agreement to change the terms of Bethune’s bond.

Clarke ordered a new trial, effectively putting Bethune back to where he was the day before his trial started.

No other court dates have been scheduled.

Changes made to Bethune's bond conditions

 

[JerseyGirl]

New judge appointed for Gaege Bethune's second trial

Judge W. Charles Grace is replacing Judge Mark Clarke in the second trial.