People v. Cortes

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant, Juan Cortes, was convicted of four counts of first degree murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1) and two counts of armed robbery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 18 — 2). Defendant elected to have the trial court determine his sentence, and the court found that he was eligible for the death penalty because he was convicted of murdering two or more individuals and because the victims were killed in the course of another felony. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, pars. 9 — 1(b)(3), (b)(6). The court further…