Defendant in Murder Case Seeks Plea Deal

One of three defendants charged with the murder of Highland Park 20-year-old Colin Nutter said in court Monday that he wants his attorney to enter negotiations for a possible plea deal, the Highland Park News reports.

James Bertucci, attorney for Benjamin Schenk, 21, of Highwood, requested that Judge Victoria Rossetti schedule a conference with the defense and prosecution to explore a potential negotiated plea in the case.

Bertucci also notified the court that if the case goes to trial, he plans to pursue a defense of not guilty by reason of insanity. The defense has a completed psychiatric evaluation and report from a private firm that will be made available to prosecutors and the judge, Bertucci said.

Schenk, along with Philip Vatamaniuc and Michael Coffee, both 17 a the time of the incident and of Highland Park, were charged with first degree murder and other offenses in Nutter’s death June 7 and indicted by a Lake County Grand Jury June 26.

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