SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - The fate of Dorian Torres will not be decided by 12 of his peers later this month.
The 19-year-old Sheboygan man waived his right to a jury trial Wednesday in Sheboygan County Court. This means Judge Terence Bourke and his review of the evidence will decide if Torres is guilty or innocent of first-degree intentional homicide for the death of his father, Emilio, in January of 2014.
"If he thinks he can get a better consideration from the judge than from 12 people that’s his choice," says District Attorney Joe DeCecco.
DeCecco tells WHBL News that whoever would rule on the case won't change how he approaches how the state will present their case. "We still have the burden of proof. We have to present all of the evidence. It will go quicker."
DeCecco says with no jury, the pace of the trial will be faster with no need to excuse the jury in case either he or defense attorney Raj Kumar Singh have any questions, such as what evidence to be allowed for consideration in reaching a verdict.
Five days have been set for the trial, which begins June 22.
Learn more about the case by clicking on the links below of past WHBL News stories: