Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Virginia, IL: Judge Recuses Himself From Cass County Murder Case

VIRGINIA, Ill. (AP) ― In Cass County, Circuit Judge Bob Hardwick Jr. has recused himself from presiding over the murder trial of a 74-year-old great-grandmother accused of shooting her granddaughter's estranged husband in the back of the head.

Attorneys for Shirley J. Skinner of Ashland filed a motion last week to substitute judges.

Skinner is charged with first-degree murder in the Nov. 25, 2008 shooting death of 32-year-old Steven P. Watkins at her home.

Police say Watkins was shot after he arrived to pick up his 18-month-old daughter for a court-ordered visit. Watkins was scheduled to be in court the next day in a pending divorce case with his estranged wife, Jennifer, who is Skinner's granddaughter.

Skinner was arraigned last week and has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

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