People v. Butler

James Butler was indicted for murder and three counts of armed robbery. A Cook County circuit court jury found him guilty on two of the armed robbery counts and on the murder change, recommending death as the murder penalty. The trial court imposed concurrent terms of 15 to 40 years imprisonment on the armed robbery charges and imposed the recommended death sentence for the murder. Our Rule 603 provides a direct appeal here in death-sentence cases. 50 Ill.2d R. 603.

On October 21, 1969, a man entered the waiting room of the Ram Tool Corporation carrying a music case. He sat briefly in the…