People v. Kiel

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE STOUDER

delivered the opinion of the court:

After a bench trial in the circuit court of Rock Island County, the defendant, Bemett Kiel, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of from five to 15 years.

On appeal the defendant presents two issues: (1) the trial court erred in admitting the hearsay statements of alleged co-conspirators where the State had failed to establish first by independent evidence a prima facie case of conspiracy and (2) the State did not prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. We reverse.

The…