Baker Claims Innocence, Demands New Trial

A Deerfield man convicted Nov. 5 of beating a Vernon Hills woman to death with a baseball bat in April, 2010, now claims the victim’s daughter, his former girlfriend, committed the crime, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune.

Daniel Baker, 24, of Deerfield filed a motion in his own handwriting maintaining his innocence in court today which was presented by his attorney, Ed Genson, according to a report in the Daily Herald. The eight-page document was titled, “Not Guilty.”

Earlier: Nerheim Appoints Special Prosecutor in Baker Case

Baker was scheduled for sentencing Wednesday but Judge Daniel Shanes postponed that hearing when the motion was presented, according to an article in the Lake County News Sun. Shanes told the parties to return to court Feb. 5.

when he hit Marina Aksman of Vernon Hills with the bat, according to trial coverage by Patch. He now claims Aksman’s daughter, Kristina Aksman, killed her mother, according to the Tribune.

Genson continues to maintain Baker’s mental health is an issue. “It is my strong belief that Mr. Baker was not competent before, during or after his trial on the charge of first-degree murder,” Genson wrote in his affidavit, according to the News Sun.