PEORIA, Ill. — Former Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson has filed for a new trial in the shooting death of Sonya Massey, alleging errors by the presiding judge, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Grayson was convicted on Oct. 29 of second-degree murder for shooting Massey, who was holding a pot of water from her stove and telling officers she “rebuked [them] in the name of Jesus.” Grayson faces a sentence of up to 20 years for the conviction.
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Lawyers for Grayson argue that Judge Ryan Cadagin erred by allowing the jury to hear comments Grayson made about Massey after the shooting took place. Body camera footage shows Grayson discouraging his partner from rendering aid to Massey. He also later referred to her as a “b*****" and “f***ing crazy” when describing the incident to other officers.
Defense attorneys allege that playing the parts of the body camera footage that included these statements “improperly inflamed the passions of the jury,” according to the report.
“The events occurring after an officer’s decision to use force have no bearing on whether that use of force was reasonable or justified,” the motion states.
Attorneys also stated that the judge did not permit hearing testimony from a neighbor of Massey’s due to unreliability. They argued that this evidence could have been used to demonstrate Massey’s “propensity for violence,” according to the report.
“We do not believe there is any merit to the defendant’s assertions in his motion and will file our written response,” Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser stated.
Grayson is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 29.
