ST. CHARLES COUNTY -- A jury has found Eric D. Winfrey guilty of first degree murder and first degree robbery in the fatal shooting of a worker at St. Charles storage facility. The jury got the case shortly before 1 p.m. today.
Eric Winfrey, 39, was on trial for the murder of St. Charles storage facility employee Christopher Hanneken, 27, of Maryland Heights. Hanneken was shot once through the back of the head on June 2, 2004. A delivery man found him in a back room of the Storage USA office on Highway 94 in St. Charles. Authorities said $395 was missing.
Winfrey was charged with murder and robbery in the case. The trial began last Tuesday.
The case centered on Winfrey's wherebouts on the day of the killing and testimony by friends over how he obtained a gun. But investigators have acknowledged no evidence seized from the crime scene, Winfrey's car or apartment link him to the killing. Surveillance footage from the storage facility was stolen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean Hoag, who was trying the case for the St. Charles County prosecutor's office, recapped for jurors evidence in the case. Hoag told jurors this morning they have a largely cicumstantial case to consider, but that testimony from dozens of witnesses corroborates Winfrey's guilt.
John Tucci, Winfrey's attorney argued the state's evidence is weak because of a lack of evidence at the crime scene.
"Proof beyond a reasonable doubt has not been offered," he said.
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