John A. Zortman, charged with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 2, 2006, beating-death of his landlord, was granted his sixth continuence last week. Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Thomas Brownfield granted the continuence so that Zortman’s attorney would have time to acquire a crime scene analysis expert witness to examine blood splatter evidence. Pekin Times.com also writes:
Court appointed attorney Kevin D. Tippey of Grosboll, Becker, Tice and Tippey law firm in Petersburg told Brownfield that the state plans to present an expert witness on blood spatter at trial and that he needed time to have an expert review the blood spatter evidence that will be presented by Mason County State’s Attorney Kristen Miller. Zortman is accused of attacking and beating Sopher because Sopher confronted him about money that Zortman owed for utilities.