People v. Walls

MR. PRESIDING JUSTICE ENGLISH

delivered the opinion of the court.

Offense Charged Burglary.*

Defense at Trial Alibi.

Judgment

After a bench trial, the court found defendant guilty and imposed a sentence of three to ten years.

Point Raised on Appeal

Defendant did not receive a fair trial because a State witness, the investigating police officer, was excepted from a general exclusion of witnesses.

Opinion

Pursuant to a well-recognized practice in the courts of this state, the judge, in excluding witnesses at the beginning of the trial, made an exception of the investigating police officer. This was done…