People v. Hill

382 N.E.2d 881, 65 Ill. App. 3d 879, 22 Ill. Dec. 491, 1978 Ill. App. LEXIS 3570
Appellate Court of Illinois·Decided November 17, 1978·No. 13661·Published·Cited by 8 cases

Opinions

Mr. JUSTICE TRAPP

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant appeals his convictions upon jury verdicts of felony murder and robbery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, pars. 9 — 1(a)(3), 18 — 1) and the respective sentences of 35 to 100 years and 6 2/3 to 20 years. The jury found defendant guilty of burglary (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 19— 1), but it appears that no sentence was imposed. Defendant was acquitted upon a charge of murder as defined in section 9 — 1(a)(2) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1(a)(2)).

The charges arose from the entry of defendant and co-defendants, Harris and Taylor, into a darkened rural home for purposes of burglary. In fact, the residence was occupied by a man aged 73 years, who was set upon, severely beaten, and was dead when found. His billfold and currency were taken during the course of the beating.

Prior to trial, Harris pleaded guilty to burglary and testified in behalf of the prosecution. A trial of defendant and Taylor, jointly, was declared to be a mistrial for the reason that the jury was unable to reach a verdict. Thereafter, Taylor moved for severance alleging antagonistic defenses vis-a-vis defendant and that motion, as well as a motion for a change of place of trial, was granted. Upon the trial of Taylor, he was acquitted.

An initial issue arises from the discharge of the jury upon the determination of mistrial on April 10, 1975. Thereafter, on May 22, defendant and Taylor filed motions for discharge alleging constitutional double jeopardy and a right to discharge under section 3 — 4(a)(3) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 3 — 4(a)(3)).

In argument upon the motions in the trial court it was conceded that no objection was made to the form of the questions asked of the jury or the entry of the order for the discharge of the jury. While not suggested or referred to in the briefs, the record of the minutes of the trial court discloses the following details: On April 8, 1975, the jury retired to deliberate at 1:06 p.m. and continued until 10 p.m. On April 9 at 9:15 a.m., the jury resumed deliberations. At 10:45, the jurors advised that they had been unable to reach a verdict. The trial judge and counsel agreed that the jury should be recalled into the courtroom and that the court should instruct the jurors “based upon the American Bar Association suggestions ° 6 V (See People v. Prim (1972), 53 Ill. 2d 62, 289 N.E.2d 601.) Following a lunch the jury was so instructed and resumed deliberations at 2:10 p.m. There is no specific notation as to how late they continued on that date. On April 10, the jury resumed consideration of the verdict at 9:15 a.m., and at 10:45, defendants and counsel being present, the court directed that the jury be returned to the courtroom. The court’s minutes note, “Court is advised that the Foreman considers the jury to be hopelessly deadlocked.”

A transcript attached to the motions for discharge in the trial court discloses the following:

“THE COURT: Mr. Paro, is it correct you have been selected as Foreman of this Jury?

MR. PARO: Yes, your Honor.

THE COURT: Would you please rise and answer several questions I have prepared for you as Foreman. I will ask you first, have you been able to reach a verdict in this case? Answer Yes or No — have you been able to reach a unanimous verdict in this case?

MR. PARO: Yes and no, your Honor.

THE COURT: The answer can’t be both, Mr. Paro.

MR. PARO: I don’t know how to answer your Honor.

THE COURT: If you have not been able to reach a unanimous verdict the answer is no.

MR. PARO: No.

THE COURT: Do you believe it is possible or impossible to reach a unanimous verdict in this case?

MR. PARO: Can I ask a question, your Honor, or not?

THE COURT: I would rather you would not. Do you believe it is impossible?

MR. PARO: Yes, your Honor, it is.

THE COURT: Do you believe that the jury is hopelessly deadlocked?

THE COURT: You may be seated.”

The balance of the transcript discloses that no objection or motion was made with regard to the proceedings and that following departure of the jury, counsel immediately discussed and agreed upon the dates for a new trial.

In factual context, the case most nearly resembling this opinion upon the constitutional issue is People v. Bean (1976), 64 Ill. 2d 123, 355 N.E.2d 17, which affirmed the appellate court opinion found in 26 Ill. App. 3d 1090, 325 N.E.2d 679. Citing prior Illinois authority, the supreme court stated that:

“ <o * o [TJhe law has invested courts of justice with the authority to discharge a jury from giving any verdict whenever, in the court’s opinion, there is a manifest necessity for the act, or the ends of public justice would otherwise be defeated. Courts are to exercise a sound discretion on the subject and it is impossible to define all the circumstances which would render it proper to interfere. We are of the opinion that such a discharge constitutes no bar to further proceedings and gives no right of exemption to the prisoner from being again put upon trial. [Citations.]’ 23 Ill. 2d 520, 524.
In the absence of an abuse of discretion by the trial court when it discharges a jury because of its failure to reach a verdict, reprosecution is not barred.” 64 Ill. 2d 123, 127-28, 355 N.E.2d 17, 19.

Defendant also claims a violation of section 3 — 4(a)(3) of the Criminal Code (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 3 — 4(a)(3)), which provides that a prosecution is barred if defendant was formerly prosecuted for the same offense, if such former prosecution “[w]as terminated improperly after the jury was impaneled and sworn or, * ° 0 before findings were rendered by the trier of facts, * * The operation and effect of that statute was neither raised nor considered in Bean. No authority has been cited and we find no reason to conclude that the operation and effect of the statute calls for any different standard or measure than that found in cases concerning constitutional double jeopardy.

In Bean, the jury had deliberated for eight hours. It was stipulated by counsel that the court should inquire whether the jury had “reached a verdict on all of the issues?” and that if the report of the jury was negative the court would give an improved instruction. Such additional instruction was given and the jury retired to deliberate. After 20 minutes, the jury was returned to the courtroom and reported that no verdict had been reached. The court, thereupon, found the jury to be deadlocked, declared a mistrial and discharged them.

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People v. Hill, 382 N.E.2d 881, 65 Ill. App. 3d 879, 22 Ill. Dec. 491, 1978 Ill. App. LEXIS 3570 (Ill. Ct. App. 1978).

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