Trial Begins in Nearly Six-Year-Old Oak Forest Murder Case

It was the day family and friends of Felix Jimenez had awaited for nearly six years.

Monday marked the start of the five-day bench trial for Derek Grib, the man accused of stabbing and killing Jimenez.

Grib, who waived his right to a jury trial, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly stabbing and killing Jimenez at a party in Oak Forest on July 12, 2009. Jimenez died shortly after midnight July 13, 2009. Grib was 16 at the time of the killing. 

He was released from custody on $100,000 bond. Prosecutors claim Jimenez was attacked but Grib’s attorney has argued that Grib acted in self-defense.

Grib’s case has been on hold due to numerous delays, some attributable to a backlog of Cook County murder trials.

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