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Opening arguments held in Janesville kidnapping, body dumping case

By TED SULLIVAN Monday, February 8, 2010 - 3:23 p.m.

JANESVILLE -- A prosecutor said Monday a Rockford, Ill., man killed his ex-girlfriend’s lover, forced her to help cover up the murder and dumped the body in Janesville.

A defense attorney said the ex-girlfriend was involved in the murder, never reported it to police and dumped the body in Janesville alone or with someone else.

Attorneys gave their theories of the case to jurors during opening arguments in Rock County Court. They said the case hinges on the credibility of the woman's story.

Raymond C. Williams, 40, is on trial for felony charges of kidnapping and hiding a corpse in the March 2007 murder of Travel Hester, 27, in Rockford.

He is accused of killing Hester and kidnapping his ex-girlfriend to get her help with disposing the body in Riverside Park in Janesville.

Williams was acquitted of homicide in Winnebago County, Ill.

For a full story, read Tuesday's Janesville Gazette, read online in the Gazette’s E-Edition or check back at GazetteXtra.com.

reader COMMENTS

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(6)

janesvillean
Feb 8, 2010 at 11:44 p.m.
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It's a very interesting not-quite-double-jeopardy problem. The standard for both states is the same -- beyond a reasonable doubt -- but the crime on trial is different. Even if they can't prove he did the murder, they may be able to prove the dumping and kidnapping.

dini79
Feb 8, 2010 at 9:39 p.m.
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Yeah, okay ... because the DA here is well-known for being aggressive in criminal cases. I don't buy beachfront property in Arizona either.

baer2k6
Feb 8, 2010 at 6:45 p.m.
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So it sounds like this guy eluded justice in Illinois, so now it's up to the Janesville DA's office to get the job done. Go get 'em!!

beeferer
Feb 8, 2010 at 5:11 p.m.
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Swisschick- you are right on both counts- regarding going from one heinous trial to another AND your spelling of the word "heinous".

SwissChick
Feb 8, 2010 at 4:03 p.m.
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Oh, boy. We just keep going from one heinous (sp?) trial to another.

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