People v. Layhew

The circuit court of Pope County convicted defendant, Wayne Layhew, of aggravated criminal sexual assault and sentenced him to 13 years’ imprisonment. The fifth district of the appellate court reversed defendant’s conviction and remanded the cause, holding that the trial court’s failure to provide sua sponte the jury with a written instruction specifically informing it that defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt was error and held that that instruction must be given in all cases. (191 Ill. App. 3d 592.) The State filed a petition for leave to appeal (107…