People v. Armstrong

*744 After a jury convicted defendant Jamelle Edward Armstrong of kidnapping, robbing, raping, torturing, and murdering Penny Sigler, it returned a death verdict.

*120 On automatic appeal, we affirm Armstrong's convictions but reverse his death sentence because, under the standards of Witherspoon v. Illinois (1968) 391 U.S. 510 , 88 S.Ct. 1770 , 20 L.Ed.2d 776 and Wainwright v. Witt (1985) 469 U.S. 412 , 105 S.Ct. 844 , 83 L.Ed.2d 841 , multiple prospective jurors were improperly excused for cause.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Guilt Phase Trial

On the night of December 29, 1998, Penny Sigler,…