People v. Oaks

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Henry County, Douglas E. Oaks was convicted of two counts of first degree murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, pars. 9 — 1(a)(2), (a)(3)) and one count of aggravated battery of a child (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 12 — 4.3(a)) for the death of his girlfriend’s three-year-old son. Defendant waived his right to a jury at the death penalty hearing. The trial court found defendant eligible for the death penalty because the victim was under 12 years of age and the death resulted from exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of…