People v. Janes

On October 11, 1991, defendant, Ronald J. Janes, pled guilty in the circuit court of Cumberland County to three counts of murder. Defendant also waived his right to have a jury determine whether he would receive a sentence of death. At the first stage of the capital sentencing hearing, the trial court found defendant eligible for death under the Criminal Code of 1961 (the Criminal Code), section 9 — 1(b)(3) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1(b)(3)). At the second stage of sentencing, after hearing evidence in aggravation and mitigation, the court sentenced defendant to death. (Ill.…