People State Illinois v. Dorothy Williams

JUSTICE HARRISON delivered the opinion of the court: In the circuit court of Cook County a jury convicted the defendant, Dorothy Williams, of first degree murder (Ill. Rev. Stat.
1989, ch. 38, par. 9-1(a)(1)) and robbery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 18-1(a)). Following a hearing the circuit court
denied her post-trial motion for a new trial or, in the alternative, a judgment non obstante veredicto. Defendant having waived
a jury for sentencing, the cause was submitted for hearing on sentencing to the court, which found the defendant eligible
for the imposition of the death penalty, pursuant to section 9-1(b)(6) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991,
ch. 38, par. 9-1(b)(6)), for the reason that she had committed murder in the course of another felony, namely, robbery. Following
the consideration of aggravating and mitigating factors (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 9-1(c)), the court found that
there were no mitigating factors sufficient to preclude the imposition of the death sentence and, accordingly, sentenced her
to death. The cause comes directly to this court for review (Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI, § 4(b); 134 Ill. 2d R. 603),
where defendant presents 19 issues for consideration.