People v. Banks

A jury found defendant Sondra Banks guilty of one count of first degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. The court sentenced defendant to 25 years’ imprisonment for murder, and two terms of 12 years’ imprisonment for the two attempted murder counts, with the sentences to run concurrently. On appeal, defendant contends that the Illinois murder statute is unconstitutional and that the first degree murder conviction should be reduced to second degree murder because she acted “under a sudden and intense passion resulting from serious provocation.” Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 9-2.

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