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Judge asks for list of specific statements by Monday
By Doug Endres/MVM News Network
CARTHAGE, Ill. - Judge Rick Gambrell asked the attorney for Martin Laskowski to specify which statements he wanted suppressed after a pretrial hearing Oct. 26, at the Hancock County courthouse in Carthage, Ill.
Laskowski was arrested last year at his home in Plymouth, Ill., when police were asked to do a well-being check on Laskowski's son, Scott, who hadn't been to school in several days.
A coroner's report indicated Scott died from ingesting a high dose of Oxycontin, a prescription drug Martin was using for pain relief. Laskowski was arrested and charged with his son's murder.
Laskowski testified for two days last week and was cross examined by Hancock County State's Attorney Jim Drozdz. Gambrell asked for clarification on the specific statements and their legal argument for suppression before he issued a ruling.
“The motion to suppress statements is 50 pages long,” said Gambrell. “It doesn't indicate which specific statements are to be suppressed. There were a number of contacts between Mr. Laskowski and law enforcement officials. Some statements were also made to non-law enforcement personnel.
“I'd like you to submit a written argument, and within it, divide the evidence by date so I can determine the surrounding circumstances.”
Drozdz questioned Laskowski about statements he made to police and to non-law enforcement personnel at his home after his arrest, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Danville, Ill., and during trips between each of these places. He was questioned about his treatment by law enforcement officials during interviews and during his videotaped confession and stay at the Hancock County Sheriff's Office.
Laskowski frequently volunteered information beyond the “yes” and “no” answers he was asked to give.
Laskowski claimed his memory was good for some of the interviews, but not all. He blamed this on medications he was taking at the time. Once in custody, he was given several drugs, including Haldol, at the hospital in Danville after a second suicide attempt.
“I was more mild-mannered, more relaxed,” said Laskowski about the effect of Haldol.
Several questions by Drozdz, Gambrell and Laskowski's attorney, Samuel Naylor, centered around what medications he received the day he was transferred from Danville to the Hancock County Jail. He arrived at the jail at about 10 p.m. Feb. 2. He was given a pill and a sandwich to take it with. Laskowski said he didn't know what the pill was.
The next day, he was given medication in the morning, and he gave a videotaped confession later that day. Laskowski said he didn't know what the medication was.
Gambrell asked Naylor to have a list of specific statements ready by Nov. 6, if possible. The state then prepares an argument against suppression of statements before Gambrell rules on the matter.
More pretrial conferences are scheduled in the case. The trial is expected to start in early December.
Laskowski was arrested last year at his home in Plymouth, Ill., when police were asked to do a well-being check on Laskowski's son, Scott, who hadn't been to school in several days.
A coroner's report indicated Scott died from ingesting a high dose of Oxycontin, a prescription drug Martin was using for pain relief. Laskowski was arrested and charged with his son's murder.
Laskowski testified for two days last week and was cross examined by Hancock County State's Attorney Jim Drozdz. Gambrell asked for clarification on the specific statements and their legal argument for suppression before he issued a ruling.
“The motion to suppress statements is 50 pages long,” said Gambrell. “It doesn't indicate which specific statements are to be suppressed. There were a number of contacts between Mr. Laskowski and law enforcement officials. Some statements were also made to non-law enforcement personnel.
“I'd like you to submit a written argument, and within it, divide the evidence by date so I can determine the surrounding circumstances.”
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Laskowski frequently volunteered information beyond the “yes” and “no” answers he was asked to give.
Laskowski claimed his memory was good for some of the interviews, but not all. He blamed this on medications he was taking at the time. Once in custody, he was given several drugs, including Haldol, at the hospital in Danville after a second suicide attempt.
“I was more mild-mannered, more relaxed,” said Laskowski about the effect of Haldol.
Several questions by Drozdz, Gambrell and Laskowski's attorney, Samuel Naylor, centered around what medications he received the day he was transferred from Danville to the Hancock County Jail. He arrived at the jail at about 10 p.m. Feb. 2. He was given a pill and a sandwich to take it with. Laskowski said he didn't know what the pill was.
The next day, he was given medication in the morning, and he gave a videotaped confession later that day. Laskowski said he didn't know what the medication was.
Gambrell asked Naylor to have a list of specific statements ready by Nov. 6, if possible. The state then prepares an argument against suppression of statements before Gambrell rules on the matter.
More pretrial conferences are scheduled in the case. The trial is expected to start in early December.
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