Court updates for the Klimala murder and Giffin rape cases

Updating information about the murder and rape cases that hit our community in January, Joe Kopera, court advocate, reports that on Fri., Feb. 17, in the Cook County Criminal Court, Branch 66, at 26th and California, both cases were super-ceded by a grand jury indictment and assigned new case numbers and court dates.

Graffiti tagger Kristopher J. Klimala (a.k.a.Wicked), 19, who was charged with first degree murder in the stabbing death of tagger Linear Cabellero (a.k.a CHIP) on Jan 21 at Armitage and Western is currently in Cook County jail unable to post the bail on his $750,000.00 bond. The case under the new number 12CR3540 was continued to Mar. 6, 9:00 a.m. in room 101. According to Kopera, a court room and judge will be assigned at that time. The case will move to that court room and the defendant will be arraigned. "The defendant most likely will plead not guilty and a public defender will file a motion for discovery."

Michael Giffin, 25, charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault in the brutal rape of a Bucktown resident on Jan. 28 in the 2300 block of West St. Paul, was represented by two lawyers. The defendant appeared in court in a suit with his parents (assumed). He is out on $750,000,00 bond. His new case number is 12CR3730 which is continued to Mar. 8 at 9:00 a.m. in room 101.  On Mar. 8, a court room and judge will be assigned the case and it will move to that court room and the case will be arraigned.  As per Kopera, the defendant will most likely plead not guilty and his lawyers will file a motion for discovery. On Feb. 17, his lawyers filed a motion for preservation of all police and state attorney notes related to this case and the motion was signed by the judge.

The other court advocate who has been tracking these cases is Sandy Johnson. Johnson and Kopera are part of a team of volunteers who appear in court and by their presence often have an affect on court outcomes. More volunteers are needed. Please contact your local CAPS office to offer your services. In the 13th District, contact Sergeant Juan Class at 312.744.1271 and in the 14th District contact Sergeant Anita Bielicki at 312.744.1261.