People v. Hope

Defendant, Edgar Hope, Jr., was tried by a jury in the circuit court of Cook County and convicted of murder, attempted murder, and armed violence. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, pars. 8-4, 9-l(a)(l), 33A-2.) Following a sentencing hearing before the same jury, defendant was sentenced to death. Defendant took a direct appeal to this court. Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI, §4(b); Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 9 — l(i); 107 Ill. 2d Rules 603, 606.

Subsequently, this court directed the trial court to conduct a hearing in accordance with Batson v. Kentucky (1986), 476 U.S. 79, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69, 106…