People v. Kite

Defendant, Francis Clifford James Kite, was charged by information in the circuit court of Union County with one count of murder and two counts of armed violence. After a trial by jury, he was found guilty on all counts and sentenced to a 40-year term of imprisonment on the murder conviction and a 30-year term of imprisonment on each armed violence conviction.

Carol Riehl, Kite’s neighbor, testified that Kite and the victim, Ronald Bunton, came to her house around 11 p.m. on April 24, 1987. Both had been drinking. At one point, Bunton suggested hiring a prostitute for Riehl’s roommate. Riehl…