Judge denies motion for special prosecutor in Elmhurst murder

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A DuPage County judge on July 14 denied a motion by Ronald Dunbar to appoint a special prosecutor in his case.

Dunbar, of Lombard, has been charged with first-degree murder in the April 2021 stabbing of Karl Bomba of Yorkville.

Dunbar’s attorneys argued that DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin has a conflict of interest because he has not indicted – or put before the grand jury – Bomba’s brother, Kurt Bomba, for his actions in the fight that led to his brother’s death.

Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh ruled the defense argument was not β€œpersuasive as supported by the law.”

Defense attorney Paul DeLuca said last year that he and co-counsel Daniel Cummings plan to argue self-defense.

Elmhurst police were called shortly after 6 p.m. April 10, 2021, for a report of a disturbance in front of the Spring Inn, a bar on the 500 block of South Spring Road.

Prosecutors have said there was a disagreement inside the bar between Bomba and the bartender. Bomba left the building, prosecutors said, and a fight broke out involving Dunbar, Bomba and another individual.

About seven minutes after the initial call, officers received a call about an unconscious individual, later identified as Karl Bomba, at a park about a mile south of the bar.

Dunbar is free on bail. His next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 12.