People v. Mertz
Case Date: 12/31/1969
Court: Supreme Court
Docket No: 96288 Rel
|
Docket No. 96288-Agenda 1-May 2005. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellee, v. Opinion filed November 17, 2005. JUSTICE KARMEIER delivered the opinion of the court: Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Coles County, defendant, Anthony B. Mertz, was convicted of first degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9-1(a) (West 2000)), home invasion (720 ILCS 5/12-11(a) (West 2000)), and aggravated criminal sexual assault (720 ILCS 5/12-14(a) (West 2000)). At a subsequent death penalty hearing, the same jury found defendant eligible for the death penalty, and thereafter concluded there were no mitigating factors sufficient to preclude the imposition of a death sentence. Accordingly, the circuit court sentenced defendant to death on the first degree murder conviction. The court also sentenced defendant to 60 years' imprisonment on the home invasion conviction. No sentence was imposed for aggravated criminal sexual assault. Because defendant was sentenced to death, his appeal was brought directly to this court. Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI, |