People v. Benkowski

Defendant, Judith Ann Benkowski, entered a nonnegotiated plea of guilty to three counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and solicitation of murder for hire. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, pars. 9— l(aXl), 8 — 2(a), 8 — 1.2(a).) Although finding defendant eligible for imposition of the death penalty because she had “procured another to commit the murder for money or anything of value” (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 9 — l(bX5)), the court nevertheless found two statutory factors in mitigation (see Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1(c) et seq.). Thus, the defendant’s lack of a…