Judge in Felix Jimenez Case Says Trial Date Will be Set at Next Hearing

The family and friends of Felix Jimenez have waited two years for the trial of Derek Grib, the man accused of murdering their loved one—and they'll have to keep waiting.

But not for long, according to Judge Frank Zelezinksi. After issuing another continuance, he followed with a new court date of Aug. 23, where he said a trial date would be set.

"I'm not going to delay this case any longer," said Judge Zelezinski during Wednesday's hearing.

A rustling of applause rose above the sniffles on the right side of the room. Grib is charged with first-degree murder in the .

"It makes me feel so much better," said Jimenez's mother Teresa Rivera. "We're getting closer. First there were tears of sadness, then tears of happiness."

The day marked the . Jimenez's family and friends filled the right side sitting area of courtroom 108 at the Markham Courthouse. Many wore dark-colored "Felix" shirts. His uncle Hector Diaz, who said he didn't attend past court dates to avoid seeing his nephew's accused murderer, wore a shirt with Felix's image airbrushed across the back.

Across the aisle, Grib sat quietly in the back row, in a blue collared shirt and tie. His eyes were on the floor or straight ahead, rarely glancing across the room.

Before the judge appeared, Jimenez's supporters appeared as if they were bracing for bad news. Some had a feeling the case would be continued without a trial date.

Though the hearing's result wasn't quite what Felix's friends and family wished for, it was something to grab hold of.

"We got good news on this day," said Felix Jimenez, Sr. "We know our son was with us."

Jimenez's stepfather, Luis Rivera, smiled outside the courthouse.

"The judge, he's been real adamant," Rivera said. "He wants to get this rolling."