Dad goes to trial for murder of three children, their mother (Joliet, Illinois)

Dad is identified as CHRISTOPHER VAUGHN.

http://m.pjstar.com/jstar/pm_29463/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=wRWOZqkV

Trial begins for man accused of killing family

GateHouse Media, Inc.

Posted: 08/20/2012 2:00 PM

Prosecutors at Christopher Vaughn's trial contend the Illinois man killed his wife and three children because he wanted to get rid of his obligations and move to Canada.

In opening statements Monday, Assistant State's Attorney Debbie Mills said Vaughn made a scouting trip to Canada a month before the killings and went to a shooting range with the murder weapon the day before the attacks.

Vaughn is accused in the 2007 killings of his wife, Kimberly, and their three children — 12-year-old Abigayle, 11-year-old Cassandra and 8-year-old Blake.

The (Joliet) Herald-News (http://bit.ly/NBMsmK ) reports that defense attorney George Leonard told jurors Kimberly Vaughn killed her children and herself. Leonard described her as "happy on the outside but troubled on the inside."