Ex-Northwestern Professor's Murder Conviction Overturned by Appeals Court

The court ruled that Wyndham Lathem's right to legal counsel was violated during his 2021 trial, sending the case back for retrial.

Wyndham Lathem, a former Northwestern University microbiologist, was convicted in 2021 for the 2017 stabbing death of his boyfriend, Trenton Cornell-Duranleau.
An Illinois appeals court unanimously overturned the conviction, citing a violation of Lathem's right to consult with his attorney during an overnight trial recess.
Lathem had been sentenced to 53 years in prison, with prosecutors presenting evidence of a premeditated murder involving Lathem and co-defendant Andrew Warren.
The appellate court emphasized that restrictions on attorney-client communication should only occur under 'exigent and unusual circumstances,' which were not present in this case.
Prosecutors are reviewing the ruling, while Lathem's defense team has expressed readiness for a retrial, where Lathem may again testify in his own defense.