People v. Sterling

In June 2003, a jury found defendant, Doris Sterling, guilty of the February 2000 first degree murder and robbery of Antoinette Strong. At the sentencing hearing, the trial court found defendant eligible for the death penalty, but instead sentenced defendant to 70 years’ imprisonment for the murder and a 14-year extended-term sentence for the robbery.

Defendant appeals, arguing that (1) he was denied effective assistance of counsel because his trial counsel failed to make a motion to suppress statements made to police while detained for 96 hours; (2) the trial court abused its discretion…