Messina Trial has begun

Joe will be a bitch once he's on the inside. He'll be bought and sold many times. Hope he's ready for life as a woman.

Joe did not throw knock down punch. Eric was punched by another man. Joe was dumb enough to ponce on Eric and continue hitting him. I'm still waiting for this info to come out as another man could face charges.

Joe and Eric were in a relationship. They were at the bar that night celebrating their 1st anniv.together. Eric wanted to end things before people found out. Joe just went nuts.

Fact is most of u have no real idea of what happened. U just have n opinion of 1 or both of the guys involved. Who cares that Joe goes out n has drinks? Is he suppose to sit in his house n do nothing? He has to live too. Life does go on. Its a sad situation for both guys. Eric had every right to b there n enjoy wether he has kids at home or not. Difference is he shouldn't have started a fight as he has done numerous times because he apparently thought by getting a little muscle would make him a tough guy. He doesn't deserve to live his life this way but its fate n if it didn't happen that way it would have another. Joe doesn't deserve to go to jail. He got into a fight that he didn't start n got the better of the other guy. Happens everyday but this 1 ended a little different but Joe surely didn't intend for Eric to end up this way. So my opinion is keep ur stupid comments to yourself n let the courts decide what happens. We all will have n opinion about the results of that as well but nothing anyone sais will change the decision or the past.

any new news on this case??

wow

It's over.

Patch reported that the judge has convicted Messina and sentenced him to five years.

A tragedy on both sides.

Fireman wrote:

It's over.
Patch reported that the judge has convicted Messina and sentenced him to five years.
A tragedy on both sides.

It's people like you I cannot tolerate.Don't go posting LIES !! Yes he was found guilty but he was not sentenced to 5 yrs.Reread the article. Then post the facts IDIOT

Man I hope he gets the 5 years for trying to throw someone else under the bus. If I was the other kid I would file suits for slandering his name.

http://newlenox.patch.com/articles/new-lenox-...

Gilemi is responsible for the punch I heard it from his own mouth. I used to be friends with him but now am questioning his loyalty as I've watched him let joe take the fall for this. And I am not the only friend of his that is falling out of touch because of this. In my eyes if I were in joes shoes mike would do the same to me and I don't want friends I can't trust. Mike you should be ashamed of yourself for what you have done to the 2 families involved. I think you got a pretty good idea of who this is and if you had any respect for yourself and the families you should make this right. I know deep down your a good person you just are scared and that's ok but you can't let joe go down for your mistake. It is gonna eat at you forever. Do the right thing turn yourself in

Once again what a load of crap. What I want to know is why is there multiple non-bias witnesses that never once pointed Mike out. I'll tell you why...he didn't do anything wrong. Joe will get what's coming to him soon, and it's not going to be a fun few years in prison.

Your clueless bean they didn't point it out because the trial didn't start til a month ago. I mean there is nowhere they can go to tell the story but court at that point and again you not knowing shit just what you read isn't enough info. I was friends with both these 2 and I know the real story from both mike and joe and there both the same joe got pushed by Eric and mike sucker punched him to the pavement. I know from firsthand people what really happened you know what the paper tells you which a majority is falsely reported so beleive what you want I know the truth and the truth is the wrong guy is going to jail

Were either of these guys into the local MMA fights? Why would Joe wait for someone to come forward? If he didn't do it, why did he hide in a van? Nothing adds up.

Susie the hiding in the van thing was again falsely reported he was just sitting there, and he didn't give up mike expecting him to come clean on it and when that never happened he was left no choice. Mike has admitted it to me personally and joe has said the same thing from the beginning it just didn't go public until it had to

It is a sad story all the way around. Were they both big fighters? What was the fight over?

Dave wrote:

Susie the hiding in the van thing was again falsely reported he was just sitting there, and he didn't give up mike expecting him to come clean on it and when that never happened he was left no choice. Mike has admitted it to me personally and joe has said the same thing from the beginning it just didn't go public until it had to

With no disrespect to you at this time, I have to ask what it is that you are trying to accomplish. It seems that you are trying to win over the court of public opinion. The time for that is far over, he was convicted in a court of law. He is now a convicted felon, that may be sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections. You had over 3 years to come forward with your information and bring it to either police or states attorneys. The sad reality is that not one friend did so in all that time. In fact the friends that were on scene that night were all interviewed on video shortly after the incident and not one person made this claim. After a very short period of time, say one month it had to become quite obvious that the other guy was not going to come forward, but yet everybody waited and waited. Well now its over. There is a saying, he who hesitates is lost.

I know none of the parties involved nor was I there. I only know what is reported in the paper and the public record of the Illinois courts. I agree with hold on. Somebody should have spoken up earlier. If the wrong guy was convicted that is real sad. But know that his "friends" didn't do right by him. Some on this post say they had fiirst hand info or heard info from those involved, yet kept they keep mouths shut. Shame on you, too late to help your friend. I do think this was an attempt by an attorney to serve his client using the statute of limitations as his ace in the hole. Thank God this attorney did not win election, if this is what he stoops to in order to win. He made a mockery of the courts.

agreed with both hold on and someone -- the frieds knew and they said nothing. it just doesn't make sense to me. for 3 years they let their "innocent" friend go down? Just doesn't add up.

So Joe's friends knew this whole time, 3 years, that he was innocent and NOT ONE PERSON STEPPED UP TO SAY ANYTHING????? Those are not friends, those are scum bags.

Sounds like a last ditch effort by an attorney.

What was the fight about in the first place?