Burns kidnapping trial to start in May
HARRISBURG - The kidnapping and conspiracy case against former doctor and Harrisburg resident, Brian Burns, is set to begin in Saline County on May 10. 
Burns was charged with solicitation, conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping, and attempted aggravated kidnapping in the fall of 2016, after he was accused of attempting to bribe an undercover officer to kidnap Saline County State's Attorney Mike Henshaw. 
Matt Gotten of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor's Special Prosecution Unit, who is serving as lead counsel against Burns, filed two motions in limine on Friday, which Burns' attorney, Bryan Drew of Benton, seemed to think would take little time to debate before Burns' trial begins. 
A motion in limine is a motion filed by one side that asks the court for an order or ruling that limits or prevents certain evidence from being presented by the other side at the trial. 
The first motion details the People's intent to introduce "other crimes" evidence at trial, specifically Burns' second set of charges and subsequent incarceration: two counts of first-degree murder and one count of concealment of a body in connection with the disappearance and death of his estranged wife, Carla. 
Goetten's motion goes on to describe Burns' original set of charges as the "exclusive motive for the commission of the alleged offenses charged." 
Goetten's second motion details his intent to introduce into evidence three audio "overhear" recordings of Burns and his conversations with a consenting party, Mark Stricken, as well as a jail phone recording of Burns and detective, David Blazier, the undercover officer Burns attempted to bribe. 
According to the motion, the defense has not moved to suppress or limit the phone conversations, and that the state can establish a foundation for the evidence as Goetten believes that there is "no reasonable basis" to exclude the recordings. 
The motion also looks for "stipulations" from the defense as the admission of the recordings can be considered an alternative way of admitting to the crime. 
The case is continuing, despite the recent death of Henshaw. When asked why the case would continue, Goetten said, "I represent the people of the state of Illinois, not in particular any victim in a case."