Cameras in Wheaton courtroom for triple murder trial

April 23, 2013 (WHEATON, Ill.) (WLS) -- Testimony began Tuesday in the first Chicago-area murder trial to allow cameras in the courtroom.

However, the cameras inside the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton will not be allowed to record some testimony.

Johnny Borizov is accused of being the mastermind behind the shooting deaths of three members of a suburban Darien family.

Cameras were not allowed to record the trial's first two witnesses, one being the young woman who escaped on the morning of the murders. The other is Angela Kramer, Borizov's ex-girlfriend, whose brother and parents were killed.

Cameras were allowed to record the opening statements.

Sitting at the defense table wearing a button down shirt and khaki pants, a heavier Borizov listened as Assistant DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Ruggiero told jurors that the 31-year-old is responsible for the murders of Jeff and Lori Kramer and their 20-year-old son, Michael.

"Multiple shots, Jake, make sure they're all dead," said Ruggiero.

Ruggiero quoted orders from Borizov to the man he allegedly convinced to shoot the family.

Calling him a "master manipulator," prosecutors say Borizov convinced Jake Nodarse to break into the Kramer's Darien home and kill all of them. Prosecutors say the crime was spurred by Borizov's hatred for the Kramers.

At the time of the March 2010 murders, Borizov was in the middle of bitter custody battle with Jeff and Lori Kramer's daughter, Angela.

"The evidence is going to show you, ladies and gentlemen, that only one person orchestrated these murders, that put Jake up to this, and that was Jake Nodarse himself," said defense attorney Paul DeLuca. "He was guided by his own delusions and demons."

Nodarse pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the crime. Both sides are using his mental illness and drug use to claim he acted alone or, as prosecutors argue, was pressured into committing the crimes by Borizov.

"[Borizov] is legally responsible just as if he pulled the trigger himself," said Ruggiero.

The trial is expected to last about four weeks.

Nodarse is expected to testify against Borizov. Cameras will be allowed to capture his testimony.

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local, sarah schulte

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