People v. Lane

Theresa Lane (defendant) was convicted of first-degree murder on December 19, 1997. The conviction stemmed from the death of Jerry Lane, defendant’s husband, on December 20, 1989, in the basement of his and defendant’s abode. On July 22, 1991, defendant was charged by way of information with first-degree murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1 (now see 720 ILCS 5/9 — 1 (West 1996))). The first trial began on September 25, 1996, and ended in a hung jury. A second trial occurred from June 12, 1997, to June 19, 1997, and also ended in a hung jury. The third trial, the subject of this…