People v. King

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Cook County, the defendant, Derrick E. King, was convicted of murder and armed robbery. Sitting without a jury, the trial judge sentenced the defendant to death for his murder conviction. Sentence was stayed (87 Ill. 2d R. 609(a)) pending direct review by this court (Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI, sec. 4(b); 87 Ill. 2d R. 603), and we now affirm the judgment of the circuit court.

The offenses occurred in the evening of December 19, 1979, at a record and candy store named “Pleasures Unlimited,” located at 1943 West 79th Street in Chicago. The victim,…