New trial after public funds denied to defense in case of arson deaths

By David Thomas Law Bulletin staff writer

Posted September 14, 2017 2:27 PM

A divided state appeals court on Wednesday ordered a new trial for a man who was unable to afford his own expert at trial.Jovan Djurdjlov was convicted of starting an apartment fire and killing two people.But a majority of the 1st District Appellate Court vacated Djurdjlov’s conviction, finding a Cook County judge had no authority to deny his request for public funds to hire an expert to contest cellphone evidence prosecutors presented.Djurdjlov is indigent, testifying that he owned no property and had no assets; his …

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