Opinion ID: 2068732
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: eligibility for death sentence

Text: The jury found that the defendant was eligible for the death penalty based on two statutory aggravating factors: (1) murder in the course of an armed robbery; (2) the defendant had a previous murder conviction when he was a minor. (See Ill. Rev.Stat.1987, ch. 38, pars. 9-1(b)(3), (b)(6).) The defendant argues that he was not proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of actually killing the victim and that the double-murder aggravating factor was inapplicable because his previous murder conviction was committed when he was still a juvenile. Neither argument has merit. The evidence adduced at trial revealed that: (1) according to Robert Bishop's testimony, the defendant was the only assailant who could have fired the shots from behind the counter area; (2) Susan Birrell observed the defendant carrying the gun in his waistband; (3) Gregory McAnarney's wallet was recovered from defendant's rear pants' pocket; and (4) blood was observed on defendant's right shoe. These facts support the jury's conclusion that the defendant was guilty of killing Mcanarney beyond a reasonable doubt and was eligible for a sentence of death based on that factor alone. Moreover, with regard to the defendant's prior murder conviction, section 9-1(b)(3) does not forbid the use of a murder conviction obtained during a defendant's minority. (Ill.Rev.Stat.1987, ch. 38, par. 9-1(b)(3).) In fact, the clear language of the statute authorizes the use of murders committed as the result of unrelated and separate acts. (Ill.Rev.Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 9-1(b)(3).) Therefore, both statutory factors used to establish defendant's eligibility for the death penalty were properly presented to and considered by the jury.