People v. Winstead

Defendant was convicted by a jury of the involuntary manslaughter 1 of his three-year-old stepdaughter, Linda Hernandez, and sentenced to a term of not less than nine years nor more than ten years in the Illinois State Penitentiary. He appealed to the Supreme Court on four grounds:

1. The crime was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

2. The trial court improperly limited defendant’s cross-examination of the People’s witnesses and did not maintain sufficient control of the trial to insure a fair trial.

3. The court made prejudicial remarks and did not maintain an impartial attitude.

4. The…