Docket No. 83987-Agenda 2-January 1999.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellee, v. 
DANIEL RAMSEY, Appellant.

Opinion filed August 10, 2000.

CHIEF JUSTICE HARRISON delivered the opinion of thecourt:

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Hancock County,defendant, Daniel Ramsey, was convicted of two counts of firstdegree murder, three counts of attempted first degree murder, andone count each of aggravated criminal sexual assault, homeinvasion and residential burglary. In finding defendant guilty ofthese offenses, the jury rejected defendant's claim that he wasinsane under section 6-2 of the Criminal Code of 1961, asamended by section 15 of Public Act 89-404 (720 ILCS 5/6-2(West 1996)). The jury also determined that defendant was eligiblefor the death penalty based on the cold, calculated andpremeditated manner of the crimes. 720 ILCS 5/9-1(b)(11) (West1996).

After a sentencing hearing, the jury found that there were nomitigating factors sufficient to preclude imposition of a deathsentence. The trial court then sentenced defendant to death. Inaddition, the court sentenced defendant to terms of imprisonmenton his convictions for attempted murder, aggravated criminalsexual assault, home invasion, and residential burglary.Defendant's death sentence has now been stayed pending directreview by this court. Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI,