Potential jurors told no death penalty

The jury seated for the Peter Hommerson murder trial this week got some information about sentencing options most juries never hear.

Hommerson is on trial for the 1996 murders of Marvin and Kay Lichtman in Barrington Hills and was eligible for the death penalty because there were two victims.

But State's Attorney Michael Waller decided against seeking the death penalty in the case and Hommerson now faces a mandatory life prison sentence if convicted of both slayings.

Just before jury selection began Monday, Assistant State's Attorney Michael Mermel asked Circuit Judge John Phillips to inform the group of 45 prospective jurors they would not be hearing a death penalty case.

In almost all circumstances, except death penalty cases, the penalties that could apply upon conviction are not discussed with jurors because sentencing is the province of the judge.

But Mermel asked for the departure from tradition because he did not want to exclude people from the jury simply because they are opposed to the death penalty and he felt that telling the group up front would put them at ease.

"If the jurors are so informed, it does not reduce our burden one whit; it is still a murder case," Mermel said. "There are many people who could be perfectly fine jurors in a murder case who would be excluded if they believed they had to sentence someone to death."

Defense attorneys Dwayne Douglas and David Weinstein objected, arguing that by telling the jurors it was not a death penalty case Phillips would be signaling them that the mandatory life sentence applied.

Phillips decided to go along with Mermel's suggestion, but allowed the defense team to craft the wording of what he told the jurors about the death penalty not applying, and Douglas and Weinstein asked they be told simply that the Hommerson trial "is not a capital case."

Scholarships available: Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran is offering a $500 scholarship for one student enrolled in a college or university in the state this year.

The scholarship is being offered through the Illinois Sheriff's Association.

Applications for the scholarship can be picked up at the sheriff's office in Waukegan or downloaded from www.ilsheriff.org and must be completed by full-time students for the 2007-2008 school year.

The application must be filled out and returned to the sheriff's office by March 14.

Police academy:ŒMundelein police are forming their second police academy for parents to begin weekly sessions on Jan. 29.

The program, which will be held at the police station at 221 N. Lake St., will cover issues such as underage drinking, domestic issues, Internet safety and drug abuse warning signs.

The free program will be conducted on Tuesday's from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for five weeks and is limited to 30 participants.

For more information, call Officer Katie Smith at (847) 968-4600.