Opinion ID: 2027457
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: multiple counts for murder

Text: Defendant contends that the trial judge found him guilty of six counts of murder and that his convictions should be vacated since he only murdered two people. The State maintains that, since the final judgment in any criminal case is the sentence, defendant's argument is without merit because the sentence of death was imposed in this case for the two murders of Danilo Rodica and Thomas Pavlopoulos. In People v. Wilfong (1960), 19 Ill.2d 406, 408, this court stated that where it is clear that they [different offenses] grow out of the same act or transaction, separate and distinct offenses may be charged in the same indictment and stated, in different ways, in as many counts as necessary. It is clear from the judge's pronouncement of sentence that the defendant was found guilty and sentenced for two murders only. The judge stated: Walter Stewart, for the murder of Danilo Rodica I sentence you to death. For the murder of Thomas Pavlopoulos I sentence you to death. Later, the judge stated that he had sentenced the defendant to death for the murder of two individuals. The murder of two individuals committed in the course of a forcible felony, to-wit: armed robbery. In the instant case, it is clear that the defendant was found guilty of two murders, not six. Therefore, we hold that the defendant was only found guilty on two of the six counts of murder charged in the information. For all of the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment, including the sentence of death of the circuit court of Cook County. Accordingly, the clerk of this court is directed to enter an order fixing Monday, September 24, 1984, as the date on which the sentence of death entered in the circuit court of Cook County is to be executed. The defendant shall be executed by lethal injection in the manner provided by section 119-5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 38, par. 119-5). A certified copy of this order shall be furnished by the clerk of this court to the Director of Corrections, to the warden of Stateville Correctional Center, and to the warden of the institution wherein the defendant is confined. Judgment affirmed.