People v. Lockett

Defendant, Jerome Lockett, 18 years of age, shot and killed Henry Jones, 78 years of age. The defendant was convicted of murder after a jury trial in the circuit court of St. Clair County. He was sentenced to a term of not less than 25 years’ nor more than 50 years’ imprisonment. In a majority opinion, the appellate court reversed the conviction and remanded the cause to the trial court for a new trial. (75 Ill. App. 3d 183.) We granted leave to appeal.

The facts surrounding the shooting are as follows. On the evening of September 3, 1973, the defendant and two of his friends, while in…