SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson was in court Friday afternoon, as a judge ruled on what evidence will be allowed for his trial next month.

Last summer, Sean Grayson and another Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy responded to Sonya Massey’s 911 call after she said she saw a prowler near her house. Body camera footage showed that Grayson shot Massey, a Black woman, in the head after she moved a pot of boiling water from her stove.

Grayson was charged with first-degree murder and fired from the Sheriff’s Office.

Several family members appeared in court, including Massey’s mother, father, son and daughter.

Judge Ryan Cadigan heard multiple motions from both prosecutors and Grayson’s defense.
He ruled the defense cannot bring up Sonya Massey’s mental health prior to calling 911. Prosecutors will also not be allowed to use Grayson’s history of disciplinary issues at previous law enforcement agencies as evidence, either. Local activists criticized that decision.

“First impressions are often times lasting impressions,” Teresa Haley, the Illinois NAACP Director, said. “And the fact that the jurors won’t be able to vote on that and be able to hear evidence about his past experience. But I think there’s enough information from the body cameras that will help people to rule and make the right decision.”

Cadigan also blocked a motion that would label Sonya Massey as the aggressor for moving a boiling pot of water, which pleased her loved ones. Cadigan agreed with prosecutors, who said the jury will be able to determine who aggressed the situation from the body camera footage.

“They tried to paint my daughter as some sort of aggressor,” James Wilburn, Sonya Massey’s father, said. “The judge threw that one out, he didn’t even… you know there’s a situation when there’s a self-defense situation where you could start out defending yourself and then you become the aggressor later on. The judge wouldn’t have none of that.”

The family of Sonya Massey also said they are disappointed cameras will not be allowed in the court room during the trial.

The trial starts on Oct. 20 in Peoria. There will be another pre-trial hearing on Oct. 2.