BELLEVILLE – The brother of a man who was killed while visiting a Belleville home claims the murderer was experiencing a psychological episode and mistook the decedent for an enemy soldier.
Plaintiff Joseph Goodwin, brother and special representative of James Goodwin, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against defendants Leonardus Koene and Bailey Hamor, citing negligence and carelessness in violation of the Illinois Wrongful Death Act.
According to the lawsuit, James Goodwin was visiting a Belleville home owned by Koene on July 20, 2022. He claims Hamor was also present at the home with the permission of Koene. Hamor allegedly suffered from "psychological problems, in which Mr. Hamor believed that Russian and German soldiers were coming to get him, and and that Mr. Hamor has actually threatened to be violent in the then recent past." Goodwin claims Koene knew about Hamor's threats. Despite this knowledge, Koene allegedly did not warn James Goodwin of the potential danger Hamor might represent, allowed Hamor to have full access to his home and did nothing to secure dangerous objects that might be used as weapons.
The lawsuit states that while James Goodwin and Hamor were at the residence, Hamor experienced a psychological episode and stabbed Goodwin with a knife he grabbed from Koene's kitchen, killing him.
The suit states that James Goodwin endured pain and suffering, mental anguish, and ultimately died as a result of the defendant's negligence and carelessness.
The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus court costs and any other relief the court deems proper. He is represented in this case by attorney Thomas G. Maag of The Maag Law Firm, LLC in Wood River.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 22LA1062