People v. Garner

Defendant, William Garner, was charged with armed robbery, armed violence and unlawful restraint. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, pars. 18 — 2, 33A — 2, 10 — 3.) Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant was convicted in absentia and sentenced, as a habitual criminal (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 33B — 1), to life imprisonment.

The appellate court reversed defendant’s convictions, holding that the trial court’s failure to admonish defendant, prior to conducting trial in defendant’s absence, of his right to be present at trial constituted reversible error. (205…