People v. Walker

In a bench trial, defendant was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter (his wife). He was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in the penitentiary.

On appeal, defendant’s basic contentions are: (1) that he was not proved sane beyond a reasonable doubt; and (2) that the court committed reversible error when it sentenced him without a hearing in aggravation and mitigation.

The facts are not in dispute. On April 15, 1965, defendant, William J. Walker, a detective with the Illinois State Police, resided with his wife, Arlene (a Chicago school teacher), and four children in their home at 7451 South Aberdeen…