Extension granted to defendants
October 16, 1992
An NIU stabbing case involving two co-defendants will be continued until the end of October.
Eric Williams and Derrick Williams-Smith were issued an order for continuance in the case involving Alphonso Knight, a former NIU student, who was stabbed March 21 in Grant Towers South.
Robert Jenkins, DeKalb County associate circuit judge, allowed the continuance so that Williams and Williams-Smith could seek counsel.
Both men were charged with four counts of criminal activity, including three counts of aggravated battery and one count of mob action.
DeKalb County State’s Attorney Michael Coghlan said the three counts of battery are for “causing great bodily harm, causing disfigurement and battery occurring in a public way.”
Coghlan said the normal procedure for the case to progress is to have a preliminary hearing to see if there is probable cause for an arraignment. If probable cause is found, then the co-defendants will enter a plea at the arraignment, he said.
Coghlan said there are a total of four co-defendants in the case. One of the other co-defendants is Steven Poindexter, 21, of Chicago.
Williams and Williams-Smith are scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 29. Poindexter is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 22.