A McLean County judge has granted a new trial for a man serving 60 years in prison for the stabbing death of his father in 1991.
Donald Whalen has spent 27 years behind bars after he was found guilty in the killing of Bill Whalen at a downtown Bloomington bar.
Judge Scott Drazewski on Wednesday granted Whalen’s request for a new trial after three days of hearings.
McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp said he will obtain a transcript of Drazewski’s ruling before determining the next course of action.
“Once my team and I have had an opportunity to review the court’s ruling in detail and compare it to the evidence introduced at trial as well as the post-conviction hearings, we will determine an appropriate path forward,” Knapp said in a statement.
Prosecutors have 30 days to file a motion to reconsider or appeal Drazewski’s ruling.
The judge set Whalen’s bond at $2 million. He will have to post $200,000 to be released as he awaits trial.
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