People v. Poole

Richard Poole was charged by information with armed robbery and was convicted thereof by a jury. The trial court sentenced him to life in prison as a habitual offender, as provided in section 33B — 1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 38, par. 33B — 1).

Prior to the trial, which took place in November of 1983, defense counsel tendered two questions to the trial court to be asked during voir dire regarding Poole’s entitlement to a presumption of his innocence. In lieu of putting the proffered questions to the prospective jurors, the trial judge apprised the venire of this…