A Jury Trial begins on October 23, 2023, for the Granite City man charged with the murder of Knox County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, Deputy Nicholas “Nick” Weist. Jury Selection is separated into two panels on Monday, 9 AM and 1 PM panels. Opening statements and testimony will begin on October 24th at 9 AM, with testimony ending each weekday by 4 PM. On April 29, 2022, Daylon Richardson is accused of fleeing from Galesburg Police on Highway 150 north out of Galesburg. Deputy Nick Weist had ended his shift right before he heard the call and reportedly went back on duty to place stop sticks on Highway 150, south of Alpha. Deputy Weist deployed the stop sticks and the vehicle allegedly driven by Daylon Richardson rolled off the road and struck Deputy Weist, causing his death from multiple blunt force traumas.
Defense Attorney, Bruce Carmen expressed concern that the Jury will be speculating regarding the events of that day and Mr. Carmen is requesting for limited instructions to be read to the Jury at the beginning and end of the trial, which State’s Attorney Runty said the State still objects to the motion. Mr. Carmen requested he be allowed to provide lesser included offense instructions, such as Reckless Homicide, to the Jury during opening statements. The State does not object to Mr. Carmen providing lesser included offense instructions to the Jury during opening statements. Judge Norma Kauzlarich told Mr. Carmen that she is not sure what he is arguing regarding him, Deputy Weist, being in the line of duty. Judge Kauzlarich said instructing the Jury early in the trial will call attention to that and might favor the Defense or State. “I don’t think it’s necessary because there are Jury instructions.” “The Jury speculating is the State’s problem, not yours.” The Lesser Included Offense allows for a defendant to be convicted of an offense they were never charged with.
The Knox County grand jury indicted Richardson of Attempted First-Degree Murder, Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm and Armed Violence. Knox County State’s Attorney, Jeremy Karlin, said that his case against Richardson will proceed following the case in Henry County.
Deputy Nicholas Weist served the Knox County Sheriff’s Office for four years and previously served with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department and Aledo Police Department. He is survived by his wife, two children, mother, father, sister and grandparents. In December of 2022, U.S. Route 150, from Main Street in Galesburg to the intersection of U.S. Route 150 and Illinois Route 17 in Alpha, was named as “Deputy Sheriff Nick Weist Memorial Highway”. Representative Dan Swanson, R-Alpha, said “We name things after heroes in this nation, and there’s no greater hero than Nick Weist, who died protecting his fellow citizens.” “I am humbled and honored that my fellow representatives from both sides of the aisle joined me in recognizing Nick’s selfless sacrifice.” Read the resolution here.
