Opinion ID: 2092667
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: verdict and sentencing hearings

Text: In convicting the defendant of all five counts of murder at the close of the bench trial, Circuit Judge Dennis Huber found that he had no doubt at all but that the defendant is guilty of counts I, II, and III (Ill.Rev.Stat.1989, ch. 38, pars. 9-1(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3) (first degree murder)). Judge Huber then stated that counts IV and V, the felony murder charges, necessitated more consideration by the court. Nevertheless, after considering the direct evidence and the substantial amount of circumstantial evidence, Judge Huber found that the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of murder while attempting to commit aggravated criminal sexual assault and while committing robbery. With regard to the felony murder charge involving attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault, Judge Huber stated that the charge is supported by looking at the total set of circumstance on the evening of the victim's murder. Specifically, Judge Huber focused on the manner in which the victim's clothes were removed: (1) the victim's jeans were found at the scene of the crime inverted, indicating that they were taken off the victim by someone else; (2) the fact that the victim's green blouse was found twisted around her neck, intertwined with a necklace, suggesting that the clothing was removed by someone else; and (3) the fact that the victim's bra was removed in such a fashion as to actually tear a piece of the bra. Further, with regard to the felony murder charge involving robbery, Judge Huber found that the total picture convinced him beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant took the purse at the time of the murder. In so ruling, Judge Huber considered the following: (1) the victim was seen on the evening of the murder with the purse; and (2) it can be inferred that the victim carried her purse back to her house since in all likelihood the keys to her car and house would have been kept in her purse. Finally, in convicting the defendant, Judge Huber found that the murder was accompanied by exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty. At the first stage of the sentencing hearing, Judge Huber found that the defendant was over the age of 18 when he committed the charged offenses, that the victim was killed in the course of a robbery, and that defendant was committing the robbery while attempting to commit aggravated sexual assault. The trial court reiterated its finding that the murder was accompanied by exceptionally brutal and heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty. Judge Huber then concluded that the defendant was eligible for the death penalty. At the second stage of the sentencing hearing, the State, through the testimony of Joyce Ely, showed that the defendant had worked in a facility that cared for mentally retarded individuals, and that he had been fired for using excessive force with two patients. Additionally, defendant's ex-wife testified that the defendant had a bad temper and occasionally became physically violent with her. Defendant's ex-wife further testified that defendant liked to tie her up during sex. She stated that he enjoyed having pain inflicted on him during the sexual act, and that he always had candles or incense burning as well. She also stated that she got fired from her job because the defendant had shown up there, started an argument with her, and threatened to kill a fellow employee if he did not get out of his way. Also included in the evidence presented at the second stage of the sentencing hearing was 16-year-old Lorri Ann Barnes' testimony that the defendant stopped to help her when she got her car stuck as she was leaving Carlyle Lake on July 11, 1989, the same date that the victim encountered the defendant. Barnes stated that the defendant was driving an older blue car that was not in good condition. Defendant tried to comfort her by putting his arms around her. Defendant also kissed the girl on the lips to which she briefly responded. The defendant then asked her to come back to his apartment with him. Barnes then told him that she could not do so because she had to find her friend. Defendant then offered to help find her friend. While the defendant was looking, Barnes left the area because she didn't want to be with him. The defendant's mother also testified at the second stage of the sentencing hearing and stated that the defendant had lived with women to whom he was not married. In sentencing the defendant, Judge Huber found that the only applicable statutory mitigating factor was that the defendant had no significant history of prior criminal activity. The court also considered whether the defendant was under extreme mental or emotional disturbance at the time of the offense, but found that no competent evidence had been produced to support this mitigating factor. The court also indicated that it took into consideration other nonstatutory mitigating factors argued by defense counsel including defendant's apparent alcoholism and drug use, his learning disability, his Christian background, his alleged suicide attempts, and general sympathy. In aggravation, the court found that the murder had been committed in the course of two felonies and that it had been accompanied by brutal and heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty. Judge Huber then concluded that the aggravating factors outweighed the mitigating factors, and sentenced the defendant to death.