The Jury Trial for Daylon Richardson was delayed an additional two weeks at a Status Hearing on December 11, 2023. The Jury Trial was pushed back to February 12th because of logistical issues at the Status Hearing on December 4th. The 5-day Jury Trial is now scheduled to begin on February 26, 2024, at 9 AM. A Status Hearing is scheduled for February 5, 2024, at 3:30 PM. The Jury will be tasked with deciding if the State has proven that Daylon Richardson is guilty of the First Degree Murder of Knox County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, Deputy Nick Weist. Richardson is charged with two Counts of First Degree Murder after the vehicle he was allegedly driving struck and killed Deputy Weist on April 29, 2022.
Judge Kauzlarich will provide written rulings on the motions from the December 4th Status Hearing to State’s Attorney Runty and Attorney Carmen by December 18, 2023.
Richardson pleaded guilty to Possession of a firearm by a felon (Class 2 Felony) and Aggravated Fleeing to Elude (Class 4 Felony) on October 23, 2023, which was the first day of his trial but potential jurors were excused when the trial was continued to January. Daylon Richardson faces two counts of First Degree Murder at his Jury Trial in February. Attorney Carmen intends to instruct the Jurors in his opening statement that they have to option to find Mr. Richradson guilty on a lesser equal charge, such as Reckless Homicide instead of Murder.
