COLEMAN GUILTY
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[On the second anniversary of the slayings of his wife Sheri and his sons, Garett and Gavin, Christopher Coleman was found guilty of three charges of first degree murder.
Coleman was charged with the murders of his family on May 5, 2009 after their bodies were found strangled in their beds.
It took jurors 15 hours to come to their decision that Coleman was guilty on all charges. The jurors went into deliberations at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday and returned with their decision on Thursday shortly before 8:00 p.m.
Before the verdict was read Judge Wharton warned the people in the courtroom to conduct themselves properly.
"This is not a sporting event and I will not allow anyone to act like it is in my courtroom," stated Wharton.
He then made everyone in the courtroom to raise their right hand and promise to it.
When the unanimous verdict was read to the court, Coleman turned red, began to breathe heavily and put his head down.
When the judge polled the jury of 10 women and 4 men, they all stated "Guilty on all three charges of first degree murder."
Sheri's family, her mother Angela DeCicco, brother Mario DeCicco, Uncle Joe Miglio and cousins Joe and Jenna Miglio, began to cry quietly as they held each other.
After the verdict was read the Coleman family and Sheri's family exited the courtroom. The Coleman family was swarmed by media as they made their way to their cars. Sheri's family was escorted from the side of the courthouse around to the back of the courthouse where a press conference was held.
With a cheering crowd of approximately 200 spectators, the DeCicco family spoke.
"It was like my sister was in the courtroom testifying with those text messages that were shown," DeCicco said. "Today, we have justice for Sheri and her boys."
Friday morning, the jury met again to and decided that Coleman was eligible for the death penalty.
On Monday, Coleman waived his right to be sentenced by the twelve jurors. After a brief break, Judge Wharton handed down the decision of life in prison with out the possibility of parole. Coleman will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Coleman was moved from the Monroe County Jail to Graham Correctional Center in Hillsboro, IL on Tuesday morning.
On?Wednesday, May 4 attorney Jack Carey of Belleville along with Romanucci &?Blandin, LLC filed a civil suit on behalf of the DeCicco family.
The suit names Christopher Coleman, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc., Joyce Meyer and Daniel Meyer.
"The only thing I have to say at this point is, what Mr. Romanucci said regarding the suit. Me and my family, our goal is to keep my daughter's memory alive, my grandchildren's memories alive and continue doing things that my daughter has been doing, down the road. If we can save one person from being abused or done what was done to my daughter that would just make us feel wonderful," stated Sheri's mother, Angela DeCicco.
The suit states on or about November 14, 2008, and on additional dates and times known to the defendants,?Christopher Coleman, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc., Joyce Meyer and Daniel Meyer, threats to kill decedents, Sheri, Garett and Gavin Coleman, were sent via electronic mail and received by defendant, Christopher Coleman, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc., Joyce Meyer and Daniel Meyer.
As a direct and proximate result of Christopher Coleman's unjustified actions which caused the death of the plaintiff's decedents, plaintiff's next of kin have been permanently deprived of their love, companionship, society, support, guidance and affection during and for the remainder of their lives, and have incurred and become liable for large sums of money in funeral and burial expenses, all o their damage in a substantial amount.
Michael King, an attorney with Joyce Meyer Ministries spoke with the media. When asked what his reaction was to the civil case filed, he stated
"We are not surprised, we are disappointed. Obviously, it is just a repeat of a case that was dismissed earlier. I have been here for a significant part of the trial. I didn't hear anything in here that suggests that anything has changed from when the case was first dismissed. Obviously, the ministry, and Joyce and Daniel personally believe they have no responsibility here. They've acted responsibly. Employers are not responsible for what employees go home and do in their house. This is just about money folks. I mean you heard a lot of people in their being named as having information about things that were going on in the Coleman marriage that the ministry knew nothing about. None of those people are named in this lawsuit because none of those people have any money. We're looking forward to defending this case and I'm confident that when the judge hears our side of it that he'll dismiss this case."
Jack Carey was asked about the family intentions to relocate the bodies of Sheri,?Garett and Gavin, he stated "I have to talk to the family regarding the matter, but I'm sure that will be in the works."
Evergreen Cemetery Sexton, Mark Gibbs told the Randolph County Herald Tribune, that a funeral home had contacted him on Friday inquiring about the possibility of moving the bodies of Sheri, Garett and Gavin Coleman.
"They called me and said that they possibly will be moving the bodies and were wondering what the cost would be," stated Gibbs.