People v. Smothers

In a jury trial in the circuit court of Macon County, defendant, Jewell Richard Smothers, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to a term of not less than 100 nor more than 150 years in the penitentiary. The appellate court affirmed (2 Ill. App. 3d 513), and we granted leave to appeal. The evidence is set forth in detail in the opinion of the appellate court and will be reviewed here only to the extent necessary to the discussion of the issues. The homicide out of which the case arose was committed in a visitor’s lounge in Decatur Memorial Hospital. At the time of the occurrence defendant…