April 28, 2024
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Trial postponed in Ottawa fatal shooting case

Man waives right to speedy trial, date now set for Nov. 27

By Tom Collins
Nicolaus J. Phillips, 24, of Spring Valley awaits a hearing July 6, 2023, in La Salle County Circuit Court. Phillips is charged with first-degree murder in the June 5 shooting death of Eric Clements, 42, of Ottawa. If convicted of murder with a firearm, Phillips would face an extended sentence of 45-85 years.

Nicolaus Phillips, 24, of Spring Valley appeared Thursday in La Salle County Circuit Court but only to announce his decision to waive his right to a speedy trial. Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. then reset the trial for Nov. 27. Phillips will next appear Nov. 17. (Tom Collins)

The man charged with pulling the trigger in an Ottawa shooting death will not stand trial Sept. 18, as he now will stand trial for murder the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Nicolaus Phillips, 24, of Spring Valley, appeared Thursday in La Salle County Circuit Court to announce his decision to waive his right to a speedy trial. Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. then reset the trial for Nov. 27. Phillips will next appear in court Nov. 17.

Thursday’s decision was not unexpected, as Phillips had represented himself before Public Defender Ryan Hamer was appointed four weeks ago. Attorneys typically require months to properly prepare for murder trials.

Phillips faces up to 85 years if a jury finds that he fired the June 5 shot that killed Eric Clements of Ottawa.

A day earlier, a second suspect waived her right to a speedy trial. Chastity Furar, 21, of Spring Valley (also listed in Ottawa), asked to put her trial on hold while she was evaluated for sanity at the time of the Clements shooting. Furar will next appear in court Oct. 11.

Although Furar isn’t alleged to have fired the fatal shot, if a jury finds that she drove to and from the crime scene and supplied the weapon, she would face an extended term up to 75 years.