People v. Holmes

In a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant, Anthony Holmes, was convicted of the murder of Joseph Murphy. The appellate court reversed (38 Ill. App. 3d 122), and we allowed the People’s petition for leave to appeal. The facts are stated in the opinion of the appellate court and will be repeated here only to the extent necessary to the discussion of the issues.

Joseph Murphy was shot to death in the Bus Stop Lounge. The only evidence which connected defendant with the occurrence- was his confession in which he said that he had driven four companions to the Bus Stop Lounge,…