The People v. Doss

The defendants, Ronald Doss and Ophem Falconer, were found guilty by a jury in Winnebago County of the murder of Lenford Marshall during a robbery in the victim’s grocery in South Beloit, Illinois. The trial court, following the verdict’s recommendation, sentenced both defendants to death. Their appeal to this court claims various constitutional errors were committed in the trial court.

The robbery and murder occurred on April 3, 1967. Mrs. Jean Marshall, the wife of the victim, and Gloria Donath, a clerk, were in the store at the time of the robbery. Mrs. Marshall identified Ophem Falconer as…