Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Later this month, the only opinions which matter will be those of the twelve jurors.

For now, though, loved ones of Sonya Massey hope the jurors see it the way they do when bodycam video is played before them. Sontae Massey and Teresa Haley (pictured, l-r) reacted after Thursday’s final pretrial hearing for Sean Grayson, the then-Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy who claims self-defense in killing Massey July 6, 2024.

‘I am glad that (the defense) decided to go with a jury trial, as opposed to a bench trial,” said Haley. “I think the community and the world wants to see this played out.”

“I am just ready to get the trial started,” said Sontae Massey, Sonya’s cousin. “It’s been an exhausting year, and I’m just ready.”

Attorneys for both sides Thursday confirmed to Judge Ryan Cadigan that there has been no discussion of a plea, negotiated or otherwise. Under a bench trial, the judge – and not a jury – would decide the defendant’s guilt or innocence.

Grayson said he fatally shot Massey out of fear that she would throw a pan of hot water at him.

The trial is being held in Peoria because of the amount of publicity in Springfield.