[Download] "People v. Rettig" by Supreme Court of Illinois ~ Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: People v. Rettig
- Author : Supreme Court of Illinois
- Release Date : January 28, 1972
- Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 55 KB
Description
Defendant Steven Rettig was convicted in a Rock Island County jury trial of murder, felony murder and robbery, and sentenced
to 14 to 30 years imprisonment. The appellate court affirmed (People v. Rettig (Ill. App. 1970), 264 N.E.2d 835), and we granted
leave to appeal. It is contended that communication by the sheriff with the jurors during their deliberations denied defendant a fair and
impartial trial. In support of his motion for a new trial defendant called the bailiff and sheriff as witnesses. Their testimony
established that just prior to the commencement of deliberation by the jury, the sheriff had a two or three minute conversation
with the jurors generally about their noon meal, although he did not remember the specific matters spoken of; that later that
afternoon the sheriff had been in the hallway outside the jurors' room when a juror came to the door wanting a question answered.
The sheriff volunteered to ask the presiding judge and then returned, explaining the judge would not answer the question.
The State introduced the affidavits of 11 of the 12 jurors whose descriptions of the second conversation with the sheriff
corroborated that of the sheriff and who stated they were not prejudiced by the incident. No reference is made in the affidavits
to the earlier conversation.