People v. Hamilton

This case involves a motion to suppress evidence as being the fruit of an unreasonable search. The circuit court of Champaign County denied the motion to suppress, and the defendant was convicted at a bench trial of possession of heroin, in violation of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 56½, par. 1402(a)). The appellate court, with one justice dissenting, reversed the conviction, holding that the evidence should have been suppressed (56 Ill. App. 3d 196). The issue before this court is whether the heroin, which was found in the defendant’s closed briefcase,…