Mother faces her son's alleged killer in court during witness testimony
Christian Henderson is accused of killing Luke Macke in Westwood in 2021. Four years and 7 attorneys later, the suspect has decided to represent himself
Christian Henderson is accused of killing Luke Macke in Westwood in 2021. Four years and 7 attorneys later, the suspect has decided to represent himself
Christian Henderson is accused of killing Luke Macke in Westwood in 2021. Four years and 7 attorneys later, the suspect has decided to represent himself
Witness testimony began Wednesday in a trial over a 2021 robbery that turned deadly. Investigators say Luke Macke was lured into Westwood to be robbed, but he was shot and killed instead. Macke, a LaSalle High School graduate, was just 23 years old.
Nineteen-year-old Christian Henderson and 16-year-old Savannah Wilson were charged with his murder. Four years and seven attorneys later, the trial of Christian Henderson is finally underway.
Henderson is representing himself, which means all witnesses were questioned by Henderson, including Macke's mother, Nikki Coffin.
The most emotional moment came when the state played the voicemail Macke left Coffin in his final moments.
Coffin, with tears in her eyes, described what she heard.
"He said, 'I love you, mom,' and died. I used to work in the medical field. That was him gagging and taking his last breath," Coffin said.
Henderson took his time in court. There were long periods of silence, some lasting 15-20 minutes, when he would look over the state's evidence and shuffle around his desk looking for papers.
After Henderson's trial, Macke's family will have to go through this process all over again with his co-defendant, Savannah Wilson. She is being tried as an adult.