People v. Lucas

On October 16, 1987, defendant, Roosevelt Lucas, was indicted on two counts of conspiracy (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 8 — 2(a)) and five counts of first degree murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, pars. 9 — 1(a)(1), (a)(2)). The conspiracy counts were nol-prossed by the State prior to trial. Defendant was accused of killing Robert Taylor, a superintendent at the Pontiac Correctional Center (Pontiac) on September 3, 1987. Taylor died as a result of a stab wound to his heart and suffered multiple lacerations to the scalp caused by a blunt instrument.

Upon a defense motion for change of…