People v. Halley

In a jury trial in the Circuit Court of Alexander County, defendant, Harold Edgar Halley, was convicted of murder and unlawful use of weapons for which he received concurrent sentences to the penitentiary of not less than 18 years nor more than 45 years for murder and one year for unlawful use of weapons. The main thrust of this appeal is that defendant acted in self-defense and was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The incident occurred at about 3:45 A.M. on May 4, 1972, in a tavern owned by the decedent, Mearl Chamness, and located on the outskirts of Cairo. Other than defendant…