People v. Starling

The defendant, Willie Starling, was charged, together with Martha Branch, a deaf-mute, with the armed robbery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 38, par. 18 — 2) of Sergio Bolanis. The indictment as against Martha Branch was dismissed during the course of defendant’s trial. After a bench trial, defendant was found guilty of simple robbery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 38, par. 18 — 1) and sentenced to a term of not less than 1 year nor more than 3 years.

Upon a review of the record, the pertinent facts, as adduced by the testimony in the trial court, can be summarized as follows. Sergio Bolanis, the…