People v. Bradley

581 N.E.2d 310, 220 Ill. App. 3d 890, 163 Ill. Dec. 359, 1991 Ill. App. LEXIS 1751
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedOctober 11, 1991
Docket1-90-0630
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 581 N.E.2d 310 (People v. Bradley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Bradley, 581 N.E.2d 310, 220 Ill. App. 3d 890, 163 Ill. Dec. 359, 1991 Ill. App. LEXIS 1751 (Ill. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

PRESIDING JUSTICE RAKOWSKI

delivered the opinion of the court:

After a jury found defendant-appellant Fred Bradley guilty of the murder of his wife, Mary Lou Bradley, the trial judge granted defendant’s amended motion for a new trial. However, some six months after the granting of defendant’s new trial motion, the trial court set aside its order granting defendant a new trial, reinstated defendant’s conviction, and sentenced defendant to a term of 25 years’ imprisonment.

The following testimony was elicited at the hearing on defendant’s motions to suppress evidence. Arlington Heights police investigator William Martin testified that on December 23, 1986, defendant was brought to Martin’s office. Defendant told Martin that he (defendant) had just killed his (defendant’s) wife. Defendant gave Martin the address of where the victim was. According to Investigator Martin, defendant again stated that he had killed his wife, adding that he had choked her until she did not move. Defendant was placed in an interview room while Martin and three other police officers proceeded to the address where defendant indicated the victim could be found.

Upon entering the residence located at 838 S. Vail, the officers found the victim lying on the floor between the kitchen and living room. The officers stayed at the scene for some 30 minutes, securing the scene for the evidence technicians. Investigator Martin did not touch anything, although he was aware that the evidence technicians collected evidence, including some guns and some papers. Also, according to Martin, a videotape of the scene was made.

Defendant related to the investigators that he had not lived at the Vail Street home during the last six months, as defendant and the victim were in the process of a divorce. Defendant had previously been ordered by a court to stay away from the residence (although at the time of the occurrence that court order had expired). The residence was owned jointly by defendant and the victim.

Arlington Heights police evidence technician Michael Miljan testified that he had responded to an investigation of a death at the Vail address. After a short briefing, Miljan entered the house and viewed the body of the victim. He checked the interior of the house, walking through all the rooms and looking for evidence of a struggle. Miljan observed no evidence of a struggle. Miljan continued with his routine, which included three walk-throughs. During his investigation of the scene, he observed several guns. Also, as Miljan investigated, he collected a calender and some papers.

Another police officer videotaped the scene of the occurrence. No search warrant had been obtained. The calendar which was seized detailed instances when defendant had physically beaten the victim. The papers which were seized related to the couple’s divorce proceedings.

The following testimony was elicited at trial. Arlington Heights police sergeant Chisholm testified that defendant appeared in the lobby of the Arlington Heights police station on the morning of December 23, 1986, appropriately dressed for the cold weather. According to Chisholm, defendant stated “I just killed my wife.” Defendant repeated this phrase as he was led to the detectives’ office. As information regarding defendant’s name, address and the like was taken from defendant, defendant spoke in a normal tone of voice.

Investigator Martin again testified at trial. Martin recounted the conversation he had with defendant in his office. Defendant demonstrated with his hands how he had choked his wife. Martin testified that defendant was dressed normally, had no visible injuries and required no medical assistance. Martin further recounted his activities at the Vail Street residence.

Martin also testified that after he returned to the station, he interviewed defendant again. Martin read defendant his Miranda rights, and defendant waived his rights. Defendant said that he was separated from his wife, who was seeking a divorce, and that he resided in Cary, Illinois. Defendant told Martin that he had looked for his wife the previous night and had driven to her house and waited in his truck until dawn. He went to the front door and was allowed in the house by the victim. The two sat at the kitchen table and talked. An argument ensued. The defendant related to Martin that he (defendant) then grabbed his wife around her neck, and as they struggled, she fell to the floor. He sat on top of her, choking her until she did not respond. Defendant left the house and headed to the police station.

An assistant State’s Attorney arrived to interview defendant, according to Martin. Defendant was again advised of his Miranda rights, waived those rights, and repeated his statement. Martin further testified that defendant answered all questions clearly and directly. Defendant did not reveal exactly what the argument he and the victim had was about.

Dr. Tae An, a licensed pathologist working for the medical examiner’s office, testified. Dr. An autopsied the victim’s body and related some of the details pertaining to the condition of the body. An determined that the cause of death was strangulation.

Defendant’s son, Todd Bradley, testified next. Todd Bradley had moved out of his parents’ house two years prior to the death of his mother. He related that the evening before his mother’s death, he and his sister Dawn saw their mother driving down the street. As the two children spoke with their mother, defendant drove up. Defendant asked the victim where she had been and where she was going. Defendant was angry, and according to Todd, said to the victim “I ought to kill you.” Defendant then left.

Evidence technician Miljan again testified at the trial, relating his procedures for the gathering of evidence. Miljan related that he found an ashtray with a particular brand of cigarette butts in it and a warm pot of coffee. There were no signs of a struggle. The videotape of the scene, which had been taken by a fellow officer, was played for the jury. Also, photographs of the victim were admitted into evidence. After the testimony of Miljan, the State rested.

Defendant’s first witness was Dr. Richard Abrams, a psychiatrist. Dr. Abrams testified that he first saw defendant on May 21, 1986, when he treated defendant at the psychiatric unit of Northwest Community Hospital. Defendant was recovering from alcohol and possibly drug abuse and expressed anger and disappointment over his failing marriage. Dr. Abrams had subsequent conferences with both defendant and defendant’s wife. During these conferences, defendant’s wife made certain remarks which Abrams felt to be inappropriate, namely, regarding picking up men at bars and sleeping with them. Abrams testified that he sought to treat the couple’s “marital relationship.”

Dr. Abrams testified further as to the mental condition of the victim. He described the victim as sadistic and suicidal, which Abrams attributed to the victim’s violent childhood, which included suicides in the immediate family. Likewise, defendant’s childhood was also violent, and Abrams believed that defendant suffered from a lack of self-esteem. Abrams recommended that the couple separate and both continue counselling. He diagnosed defendant to be an alcoholic although defendant denied drinking prior to 1986.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
581 N.E.2d 310, 220 Ill. App. 3d 890, 163 Ill. Dec. 359, 1991 Ill. App. LEXIS 1751, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-bradley-illappct-1991.