CAMBRIDGE, Ill. — The sentencing hearing for Daylon Richardson, convicted of murdering Knox County Sheriff's Deputy Nicholas Weist in a crash back in April 2022, has been delayed until August. The hearing was originally scheduled for May 24.
In a hearing at the Henry County Courthouse on Monday, May 6, Richardson's attorneys objected to the mandatory sentence of life in prison he is facing and also raised issues with some victim impact statements made at the trial. A hearing regarding the impact statements will be held on Monday, June 10 at 9 a.m., and the new sentencing hearing will be held on Friday, Aug. 9 at 9 a.m.
Richardson was found guilty of murder in February 2024. Prosecutors presented evidence that he struck Weist after traveling at approximately 100 mph for 12 minutes while fleeing from police during a chase. The prosecution showed dash-cam footage from Weist's squad car of the officer laying down spike strips for Richardson's car after he fled from a traffic stop. Seconds later, Richardson's car came into the frame and struck Weist. Weist died at the scene. Richardson was then arrested after crashing his car into a field.