In Springfield, even though it looks like there will be NO special state summit on the death penalty, the House Speaker still wants something to be done about it. Democrat Mike Madigan says the House's Special Committee on Prosecutorial Misconduct will look at problems relating to the death penalty in Illinois. Madigan says some of the problems apparently stem from overzealous prosecutors. The issue has been a hot topic in Springfield ever since death row inmate Anthony Porter was found to be innocent. Prosecutors say they'll seek the death penalty against the adults.
Prosecutors say they agreed to the deal for several reasons.
Jones may not have received the death sentence anyway. Jean didn't face a 1st-degree murder charge because an error was made in the way he was charged. William Groseclose and Ronald Rickman were sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for the 1977 murder of Groseclose's wife. The decision by the Shelby County Criminal Court jury takes both men off death row after 20 year. They were convicted for the 2nd time last week after a federal judge threw out their 1978 convictions because their lawyers were incompetent.