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An Ottawa murder trial has been postponed until the spring.
Nicolaus J. Phillips, 25, of Spring Valley was scheduled to go to trial Monday on first-degree murder charges. He faces up to 85 years in prison if convicted in the 2023 shooting death of Eric Clements of Ottawa.
At an unscheduled hearing Tuesday in La Salle County Circuit Court, however, the trial was moved on a defense motion. Phillips will next appear Feb. 27 for a motion hearing and, depending on the outcome of the hearing, stand trial May 5.