Crime & Safety
Teen in Granat Murders Case Gets Public Defender
The public defender for John Granat, one of four teens accused in the armed robbery, home invasion and murder of his parents, appeared in court with his client for the first time Tuesday.
A public defender left a hearing in a Cook County courtroom Tuesday bogged down with an overstuffed accordion file folder and stacks of papers.
It was LaFonzo Palmer's first day representing John Granat, 18, in the case against him and three other teens for the armed robbery and beating death of a Granat's parents, a Palos Township couple.
Palmer didn't comment on the ongoing case and now joins the attorneys of the other three suspects, Mohammad Salahat, 18, Christopher Wyma, 18, and Ehab Qasem, 20. The four accused appeared in bright yellow Department of Corrections garb in Judge Neil Linehan's Bridgeview courtroom on Tuesday.
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Wyma and Granat both had private attorneys withdraw from the case; it was not immediately clear during Thursday's hearing who Wyma's new attorney is or when he joined the case. Qasem is represented by John J. Eannace.
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Meanwhile, Salahat's attorney Joel Brodsky is moving forward with two motions—one claiming that Salahat can not be tried for murder, route: {:controller=>"articles", :action=>"show", :id=>"attorney-dismiss-teen-s-murder-charges-due-to-state-law-loophole"} --> because he was 16 when he was arrested and another asking for a reduced bond. All four defendants were denied
