People v. Russ

Defendant-appellant, Alfred Russ, Jr. (hereafter defendant), was charged in a three-count indictment with alternative offenses of murder (Ill. Rev: Stat. 1971, ch. 38, pars. 9 — 1(a)(1), 9 — 1(a)(2)) and with the offense of arson (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 38, par. 20 — 1). Immediately before trial the two alternative counts of murder were nolle prossed by the State. After a “stipulated bench trial” on a plea of not guilty to the charge of arson, in which there was no attempt to comply with the provisions of Supreme Court Rule 402 relating to pleas of guilty (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 110A,…