People v. McCollum

A jury found the defendant, Randy Roy McCollum, guilty of murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 9—1). He was thereafter sentenced to 60 years of imprisonment. He appeals. We reverse the conviction and remand the cause for a new trial.

The record shows that the body of the victim, Lloyd Mecum, was found inside his home at 8:30 a.m. on July 25, 1990. An autopsy revealed that his death was caused by a stab wound to the lung. The time of death could not be determined. However, the evidence established that the victim was alive at 9:30 p.m. on July 24. Pictures of the crime scene showed that…