Defense Lawyers Get More Evidence in Granat Killings

Prosecutors trying four men indicted in the killing of a Palos Township couple handed defense attorneys some 200 additional pages of documents and a disc containing 1,100 photographs.

John Granat, 17, is accused of enlisting Christopher Wyma, 17, Mohammad Salahat, 17, and Ehab Qasem, 19, to beat, stab and rob his parents in September.

All four have been indicted on 75 counts related to first-degree murder, home invasion and armed robbery in the deaths of Granat's parents, John, 44, and Maria Granat, 42.

This latest exchange of evidence included lab and inventory reports, search warrants, and cell phone and Facebook records, said assistant state's attorney Donna Norton. Files from Granat’s personal school computer, as well as copies of police interrogation footage, were also tendered.

On Thursday, Dec. 29, Cook County Judge Neil J. Linehan—who was assigned to the case last month after the defendants requested a change of courtrooms—advised defense attorneys to begin reviewing the state's evidence and bring forth any objections sooner rather than later.

Pretrial hearings continue on Feb. 2, 2012.