People v. Franklin

The defendant, William Franklin, was charged by information in Cook County for the murder (111. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 38, pars. 9 — 1(a)(1), (a)(2)) of Elgin Evans, Jr. A jury found the defendant guilty of murder. The State requested a hearing to determine whether the death penalty should be imposed. (111. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1(d).) The same jury found the defendant eligible for the death penalty and found there were no mitigating factors sufficient to preclude a sentence of death. The death sentence was stayed (107 111. 2d R. 609(a)) pending direct review by this court (111.…