Defendants in Colin Nutter Murder Case Go on Trial in June

PHOTO: Michael Coffee (from left), Benjamin Schenk and Philip Vatamaniuc are charged with first-degree murder in the 2013 shooting death of Colin Nutter, 20, of Highland Park. (CREDIT: Patch File Photos)

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By Joe Vince

The three men accused in the 2013 murder of a Highland Park 20-year-old have been given June 1 court dates even though they will be tried separately, according to a Chicago Tribune report.

READ: Check Out the Full Chicago Tribune Report for More Details

Michael Coffee, 19, of Highland Park; Benjamin Schenk, 21, of Highwood; and Philip Vatamaniuc, 18, also of Highland Park are charged with first-degree murder in connection with a June 2013 drug-related robbery that resulted in the shooting death of Colin Nutter, the report stated.

Originally, the three defendants were set to stand trial Monday, Feb. 9, but they were able to push their court dates to June in separate hearings over the past weeks, the report added.

Authorities claim the trio killed Nutter after a drug deal turned into an attempted robbery, and Nutter was shot in the head.

READ: Drug Deal Turned Deadly, HP Teens Among Accused

Prosecutors have identified Vatamaniuc and Schenk as being the possible shooter, the report stated. If one of them is convicted of firing the fatal shot, that person could face an added 20 to 60 years to his sentence, even if the other two are found guilty of first-degree murder, the report added.

Other Patch Stories in the Colin Nutter Murder Case:

• Highland Park Murder Defendants Plead Not Guilty
• Defendant in Murder Case Seeks Plea Deal