People v. Terrell

The defendant, Drew Terrell, was charged by indictment with the murder and aggravated criminal sexual assault of 15-month-old Laura Hampton. Following a bench trial, the defendant was convicted of both crimes and the defendant’s motion for a new trial was denied. The State then requested a death penalty hearing and the defendant elected to be sentenced by the court and not by a jury. At the sentencing hearing, the court found that the defendant was 18 years of age or older at the time of the offenses and that two of the aggravating factors set forth in section 9 — 1(b) of the Criminal Code of…