People v. Brooks

Following a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County, the defendant, Barbara Brooks, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to a term of five years’ imprisonment. The appellate court reversed the conviction and granted the defendant a new trial (138 Ill. App. 3d 332), and we allowed the State’s petition for leave to appeal (103 Ill. 2d R. 315(a)).

The defendant and her husband were indicted and tried jointly for the murder of their four-year-old son, Solomon. At the close of the State’s evidence the trial judge entered a finding of not guilty in favor of Mr. Brooks.…