HILLSBORO, Mo. -- A 35-year-old man serving life sentences for six Illinois slayings wants to move a murder trial that could lead to his execution to another place in Missouri.
In his request for a venue change, Nicholas Sheley said he can't get a fair trial in Jefferson County, south of St. Louis, where prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if he's convicted in the killings of Jill and Tom Estes of Sherwood. Police say the couple were attacked outside a Festus, Mo., hotel after leaving a 2008 graduation party.
Sheley was scheduled to make his first Missouri court appearance Monday, but his arraignment was postponed after the judge stepped down at Sheley's request.
Court records don't indicate why Circuit Judge Mark Stoll withdrew, but under Missouri law, Sheley didn't have to explain why he asked.
His St. Louis-based public defender could not be reached for comment Monday. Jefferson County prosecutors also were not available.
Sheley was extradited to Missouri in February from Illinois, where he was found guilty in a string of killings that began in his Illinois hometown of Sterling.
Metro on 07/08/2015