Harrah's Murder Trial Gets Underway With Jury Selection

JOLIET, IL — Jury selection got underway Tuesday in Will County Courtroom 405 of Judge David Carlson for Robert Watson, the 29-year-old Joliet homeless man charged in the brutal deadly stabbing of a Harrah's Casino guest from Wisconsin, 76-year-old Emanuel "Sam" Burgarino.

Watson has remained in the Will County Jail for more than four years now. He was arrested by Joliet police back on March 25, 2019. The deadly stabbing inside the downtown Joliet's Harrah's casino hotel happened around 9:45 p.m. on March 24, 2019.

Watson was a transient who had just arrived in Joliet a few weeks earlier, according to prior courtroom testimony. In February, the Will County Public Defender's Office notified the judge and prosecutors that Watson is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity.

Watson stabbed the 76-year-old man from Hales Corners, Wisconsin, 26 times after ambushing the guest of Harrah's Casino on the fifth floor of the hotel during a robbery, according to prosecutors.

If the jury is seated on Tuesday, opening statements for the prosecution and the defense could take place on Wednesday morning.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Harrah's Murder Defendant Was Insane: Public Defenders

Harrah's Murder Defendant Says Jail Food Poisoned

Harrah's Casino Slaying: Wisconsin Victim's Family Sues