There will be no witnesses testifying for or against Peter D. Bergsma of Michigan when he has a trial in LaSalle County next month. More precisely, they won’t testify in the way most people think of it. Lawyers on each side submitted written accounts of their evidence to Judge H. Chris Ryan. Ryan will hear their closing arguments on January sixth.
Since each side already agrees on what the witnesses would say and what the evidence is, no one will be called to the witness stand. The lawyers will go straight into arguments telling the judge he should take everything to mean one thing or another when deciding whether the 36-year old Bergsma is guilty. Bergsma is charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Bergsma is accused of shooting at and then fleeing from Oglesby police last December, destroying a squad car in the attempt to get away. He was found near the Shippingsport Bridge after a search that lasted a few hours. That incident started when police officers checked out his recreational vehicle that was parked at the Illinois Valley Community College campus at night during the winter break.