People v. Reeves

Defendant, Barbara J. Reeves, was indicted for the murder of her husband, Charles Reeves. In a bench trial conducted in the circuit court of Franklin County, defendant was convicted and sentenced to a term of 14 years to 14 years and a day in the penitentiary. In this appeal, defendant contends that she was not proved guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt because the evidence shows that the killing was in self-defense and justifiable. We agree.

Around 11 p.m. on August 20,1974, defendant’s sister, Patricia Reeves, and the defendant went to a tavern in Benton, Illinois known as Jolly…