People v. Maxwell

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Cook County, the defendant, Andrew Maxwell, was convicted of murder and attempted armed robbery. The defendant waived his right to a jury for purposes of a capital sentencing hearing, and the trial judge sentenced the defendant to death for the murder conviction. The judge imposed a 15-year prison term for the attempted armed robbery conviction. The defendant’s death sentence has been stayed pending direct review by this court. (See Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI, §4(b); 134 Ill. 2d Rules 603, 609(a).) For the reasons explained below, we affirm the…