People v. Morgan

Defendant, Karl Keith Morgan, was charged in the circuit court of St. Clair County with the murder of 80-year-old Gertrude Eastwood. After a trial by jury, Morgan was found guilty of first-degree murder. The jury subsequently found Morgan eligible for the death penalty because the murder had taken place in the course of a sexual assault and a burglary. After a further hearing, the jury was unable to unanimously agree upon the imposition of the death penalty. The trial court subsequently sentenced Morgan to a term of natural life imprisonment.

Prior to trial, the State filed notice that it…