Harris denied change of venue

A motion for a change of venue filed by the defense in the Xandria Harris murder trial was denied in Kankakee County Circuit Court Friday. Judge Kathy Bradshaw Elliott made the ruling late Friday afternoon after arguments were heard between Harris’s defense attorney Cierra Norris and Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe. Norris argued that the community is riddled with grief from the 2021 shooting death of Bradley Police Sergeant Marlene Rittmanic and severe wounding of Officer Tyler Baily that potential jurors do no have the ability to be unbiased in the upcoming trial. Norris backed up her claims with screenshots of Facebook comments on local media outlets allegedly made by area residents showing bias towards Norris. State’s Attorney Rowe argued much of the same except his Facebook comments showed those taking Harris’s side or remaining neutral in the case.  At one point during Friday’s hearing, Norris asked Rowe to take himself off the case, since he’d already said he was on the scene the night of the shooting, that motion was denied. Assistant States Attorney Carol Costello, however was removed from the case because she’s donated to the Marlene Rittmanic Memorial Organization. Jury selection in the Harris trial is set to begin eleven Monday morning in Kankakee County Court. Norris told Judge Elliott said there is a chance she won’t be there because she has a client in a speedy jury trial next week in Maywood. Judge Elliott said she would hold her in contempt if she didn’t show up Monday.