Former client is charged in 2008 murder of lawyer killed while clearing his driveway of snow
A former client serving time in prison has been charged with murder in the 2008 shooting death of an Illinois lawyer who was killed as he was clearing snow from his driveway.
Richard Wanke, 52, was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder on Wednesday, report the Rockford Register Star, the Rock River Times and WIFR. He is accused in the murder of 60-year-old Rockford, Ill., lawyer Gregory Clark, who was killed in February 2008 by a gunman who jumped out of a vehicle and fired several shots.
Clark had been appointed to represent Wanke on the 2006 burglary charge for which he is now serving time. According to prior coverage, Wanke had been convicted but not yet sentenced when Clark was killed.
Wanke was due to be released from prison within weeks. He has previously denied any involvement in Clark’s death, the Register Star says.
Wanke’s former girlfriend, Diane Chavez, was found guilty last year of obstructing police investigating Clark’s case, but the conviction was vacated and a new trial was ordered. She is asking an appeals court to dismiss the charge.
