People v. Portis

PRESIDING JUSTICE QUINLAN

delivered the opinion of the court:

The defendant, Sidney Portis, was charged by indictment with the offense of murder, armed robbery, and armed violence in violation of sections 9 — 1(a), 18 — 2 and 33A — 2 of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, pars. 9 — 1(a), 18 — 2, 33A — 2). Also charged in the same indictment was Joseph Gardener, whose case was subsequently severed from the defendant’s. Following a jury trial, the defendant was found guilty of armed robbery and murder. The defendant waived his right to a jury during the sentencing phase, and…