Palos Twp. teen accused of killing parents gets public defender
BY LAUREN FITZPATRICK Sun-Times Media June 27, 2012 10:32PM
John Granat
Updated: July 29, 2012 5:09PM
A Palos Township teen accused of killing his parents with help from his friends is getting a new attorney funded by taxpayers.
John Granat Jr.’s private attorney, Rick Beuke, on Wednesday told Cook County Judge Neil Linehan he was withdrawing from the case. Beuke, who has maintained the innocence of John and Maria Granat’s only child since the September murders, would not elaborate after court.
“No comment,” he said. “Call the family.”
A public defender will represent Granat, now 18. The teen and three of his friends — Christopher Wyma, of Bridgeview; Mohammed Salahat, of Chicago Ridge; and Ehab Qasem, of Hickory Hills — stand charged with murdering the Polish-born Granats in their home in the 12700 block of 81st Court in Palos Township.
The couple were found dead on Sept. 11 after their son called 911. Granat was charged within days of their deaths after Cook County sheriff’s police said his alibi fell apart.
His friends, who authorities say split the thousands of dollars they found in the Granat home, kept going to school at Stagg High School in Palos Hills and Oak Lawn High School for about a month before they were arrested and charged.
