People v. Hoffman

After a jury trial in the circuit court of Champaign County, defendant, Arthur Duane Hoffman, was convicted of unlawful use of weapons and aggravated assault. Holding that the circuit court erred in denying defendant’s oral motion to suppress evidence, the appellate court reversed and remanded (81 Ill. App. 3d 304), and we allowed the People’s petition for leave to appeal. The facts are adequately stated in the appellate court opinion and will be repeated here only to the extent necessary to discuss the issues.

In the early morning hours of May 30, 1978, three employees of Richard’s Food Store…