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Damm murder trial set to begin Monday
By JEFF REINITZ, Courier Staff Writer
GALENA, Ill. --- - After a week of jury selection, the murder trial for David Damm is scheduled to begin Monday.
Damm, 60, of Waterloo, is charged with hiring an acquaintance to kill 13-year-old Donnisha Hill in October 2006 to cover up allegations of sexual abuse.
Donnisha's body was discovered in rural Jo Daviess County, Illinois, the day after she disappeared in Waterloo.
Damm faces the death penalty if convicted, and court officials began picking jurors to hear the case Monday.
They finished Friday at about 1 p.m., choosing the final four jurors and four alternates, said Sharon Wand, Jo Daviess County Clerk of Court.
Opening statements are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at the courthouse in Galena.
The trial is expected to last four to six weeks and will include up to three phases. The first will determine if Damm is guilty or innocent of the charges. If convicted, jurors will decide if he is eligible for capital punishment and then determine whether or not to impose the death penalty.
Donnisha's parents went to police in October 2006 when they became suspicious about Damm, who lived across the street from her and her mother.
During the investigation, Donnisha disappeared after taking the wrong bus from school.
Authorities said Damm hired Bruce Burt to carry out the slaying, and Burt allegedly took Donnisha into Illinois, where he killed her. Burt was also charged and faced the death penalty, but he has agreed to testify for the prosecution.
Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or Jeff.Reinitz@wcfcourier.com
Damm, 60, of Waterloo, is charged with hiring an acquaintance to kill 13-year-old Donnisha Hill in October 2006 to cover up allegations of sexual abuse.
Donnisha's body was discovered in rural Jo Daviess County, Illinois, the day after she disappeared in Waterloo.
Damm faces the death penalty if convicted, and court officials began picking jurors to hear the case Monday.
They finished Friday at about 1 p.m., choosing the final four jurors and four alternates, said Sharon Wand, Jo Daviess County Clerk of Court.
Opening statements are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at the courthouse in Galena.
The trial is expected to last four to six weeks and will include up to three phases. The first will determine if Damm is guilty or innocent of the charges. If convicted, jurors will decide if he is eligible for capital punishment and then determine whether or not to impose the death penalty.
Donnisha's parents went to police in October 2006 when they became suspicious about Damm, who lived across the street from her and her mother.
During the investigation, Donnisha disappeared after taking the wrong bus from school.
Authorities said Damm hired Bruce Burt to carry out the slaying, and Burt allegedly took Donnisha into Illinois, where he killed her. Burt was also charged and faced the death penalty, but he has agreed to testify for the prosecution.
Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or Jeff.Reinitz@wcfcourier.com
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