Citing Ill Health, Convicted Killer Seeks Reduced Sentence

ST. CHARLES, Ill. (STMW) -- Twice convicted and sentenced for a 2008 murder in west suburban St. Charles, Arthur Manning wants his prison sentence trimmed because of his "ailing health."

In a motion recently filed by Manning's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Mike Tatman generally raised his client's medical ailments in asking Kane County Judge Susan Clancy Boles to reduce 63-year-old Manning's prison time to 20 years.

Boles issued a 25-year sentence to Manning during an April hearing after a jury, for the second time, convicted him of killing Naromi Mannery during a fight outside a St. Charles residence where Manning and other carnival workers lived at the time.

Manning stabbed Mannery three times, but has long maintained he was trying to protect himself after Mannery refused to leave and became physically aggressive.

Manning's 2009 murder conviction and subsequent 29-year-prison sentence were vacated in 2011 by the Second District Appellate Court which ruled jurors in the first trial did not receive proper instructions. Manning's second trial concluded in December.

Tatman sought the minimum 20-year term for Manning at the most recent sentencing hearing, arguing that, in itself, could amount to a life sentence for Manning. Prosecutors asked for Manning to again get 29 years in prison. In the sentence reduction motion, Tatman writes, "Mr. Manning maintains that the 25-year sentence was excessive."

Prosecutors have not yet responded to the motion, while a hearing date on the request has not been scheduled.