People v. Winchel

Defendant James Winchel and Richard O’Donnell were indicted for the October 8, 1981, murders of Brad Roth and Michael Kelley. They were tried simultaneously, Winchel by a jury and O’Donnell by the bench, in the circuit court of Cook County. Winchel was convicted and sentenced to natural life in prison while O’Donnell was acquitted.

On appeal, defendant contends: (1) the State failed to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt because the evidence against him was insufficient and because the guilty verdict returned by the jury was inconsistent with O’Donnell’s acquittal by the trial court;…