People v. Sutherland

The defendant, Cecil Sutherland, was indicted in Jefferson County for aggravated kidnapping, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and three counts of murder. After a change of venue from Jefferson County to Richland County, a jury convicted him of all charges. The same jury found him eligible for the death penalty based on the felony murder aggravating factor, and he subsequently was sentenced to death. Defendant took a direct appeal to this court. Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI, §4(b); Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1(i); 134 Ill. 2d R. 603.

FACTS

At 9 a.m. on July 2, 1987, an oil field…