[May 20, 2013] Chris Harris answering questions about police interview Tweet PEORIA, May 20, 2013 (The Pantagraph - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Chris Harris spent hour on the witness stand Monday morning answering questions about a police interrogation that took place the day of his arrest, Oct. 1, 2009, on murder charges. A defense lawyer has withdrawn his motion to suppress the interview, saying he is satisfied a former state police agent spoke in error in his testimony Friday that police had plans to arrest Harris before the Armington man walked into the interview. The jury has been excused for the day while a hearing is held on the matter. The hearing continues after lunch with prosecutors expected to provide proof of their position that Harris was not in custody at the itme of the videotaped interview. Defense lawyer Dan Fultz said the motion to bar the statement is based on the testimony Friday of former Illinois State Police agent Mike Jennings. Harris testified that detectives asked him to answer more questions on Oct.1, after he told them he had talked to a lawyer who advised him not to speak with police. "He said you're not under arrest. We just want you to cooperate,". Harris quoted Jennings as saying during the interview at the Logan County jail. Harris said police told him during the interview they had his bloody palm print from the house. Harris signed his Miranda rights, stating he understood his right to have a lawyer present. He answered more questions before asking for a lawyer, ending the interview. On Friday the Peoria County jury was sent home early after lawyers for both sides huddled outside the courtroom to talk about the interrogation. Harris was arrested after the October interview and charged with the murders of Rick and Ruth Gee and three of their children. "When the interview was over I was handcuffed," Harris testified. This story will be updated. ___ (c)2013 The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.) Visit The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.) at www.pantagraph.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]