URBANA — A Champaign County judge ruled Friday that two of three statements that the alleged battery victim of University of Illinois basketball player Jaylon Tate made to friends shortly after being hit may come in at his trial.
The fact that Judge John Kennedy said one was not admissible is not enough to derail the state's case, said Assistant State's Attorney Stephanie Hall.
"That's what I expected based on the law," Hall said. "At this point we are going forward."
Kennedy was asked to rule on whether statements that alleged battery victim Hailey Pieruccini, 19, a UI softball player, made to friends within about an hour of allegedly being struck in the face by Tate, 21, at or near his apartment could be admitted at trial.