Trial begins for Joliet Township murder, armed robbery

Prosecutors plan to prove to a jury that a man is responsible for the murder of another man in a 2018 shooting in Joliet Township, even though he’s not the one accused of firing the gun.

On Tuesday, the jury trial for Anthony Francimore, 25, of Joliet began after his case spent about five years in pretrial purgatory over disputes concerning grand jury issues and the investigation by the Will County Sheriff’s Office.

Francimore and Elijah Watson, 28, of Joliet are both charged with the first-degree murder and armed robbery of Nathan Ballard, 20, on Oct. 28, 2018, in the 500 block of Fox Street in Joliet Township.

Ballard died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Watson’s trial is not expected to begin until Jan. 8.

At the outset of Francimore’s trial, Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Katie Rabenda told jurors that this was not a typical murder case but rather a case about Francimore’s accountability in the crime.

Rabenda said Francimore had concocted a plan to rob Ballard by pretending that he was going to sell him drugs.

“This robbery is what led to the death of Nathan Ballard,” Rabenda said.

Francimore joined Watson, his friend and drug dealer, inside of a vehicle that would take him to Ballard’s location for the robbery, according to Rabenda. The vehicle was also occupied by three other people.

After Francimore took Ballard’s money and returned to the vehicle, Ballard followed him, Rabenda said. After Francimore entered the vehicle, Watson stuck his arm out the window and shot Ballard as the vehicle drove away, she said.

A key piece of evidence that led police to Francimore and Watson was a photo that captured the vehicle and license plate, Rabenda said.

Francimore’s attorney, Anthony Purrazzo, pointed out Francimore’s youth and inexperience to the jury. Francimore was 20 at the time of the incident. Purrazzo also repeatedly stressed that it was Watson who shot and killed Ballard, not his client.

Purrazzo said when Francimore met with Ballard, there was no animosity, no show of force and no threat of force. He said no one in the vehicle, including Francimore, knew Watson possessed a gun at the time.

Purrazzo said the officers investigating the homicide had taken advantage of Francimore and his inability to understand what happened that day.

“They twisted his words,” Purrazzo said.

The jury trial is expected to resume Wednesday with testimony from witnesses and investigators.