The judge in the murder trial of a suspected serial killer has denied a request for a mistrial. Defense attorneys for 34-year-old Nicholas Sheley of Sterling claimed Judge Jeffrey O'Connor fell asleep during the trial Friday and at times appeared to be confused. Sheley is accused of beating four people to death in Rock Falls. He's already been convicted of killing two men that same week in 2008 and is awaiting trial for two deaths in Missouri.
