Monday, October 19, 2009

Murder charges reduced to manslaughter

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2009/10/14/25496270/index.xml

WOODSTOCK - Prosecutors reduced charges in what they previously called a “one-punch murder” to involuntary manslaughter this morning.Prosecutors dropped charges of murder and aggravated battery against Dustin Goy, 32, of Crystal Lake. Goy previously had faced 20 to 60 years in prison if convicted of murder. If he is convicted of the reduced charge after a bench trial next week, he could be sentenced to probation or to two to five years in prison.Goy is accused of delivering an ultimately fatal punch to Anthony Carlsen, 45, outside a downtown Crystal Lake bar in September 2007. Carlsen cracked his skull on the pavement and died a week later, leaving behind a wife and two teenage children.

Authorities have said the punch was unprovoked, but defense attorneys have argued that Goy acted in self-defense when Carlsen approached him after another man had pushed Carlsen to the ground. He has been free from custody after posting $50,000 bond shortly after the original charges were filed.The trial is set to start at 1:30 p.m. Monday before McHenry County Judge Sharon Prather. At Goy’s request, Prather, rather than a jury, will determine his guilt or innocence

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