The Trial and Afterwards
Kenneth Allen represented himself at his trial and sentencing hearing. He pled guilty to the murders of Bosak and Van Schaik.
In court he stated he had killed the officers for committing "another violation of the people's rights by police" (i.e. the traffic stop), and because he recognized—mistakenly—Bosak from the standoff at his house on December 13. Neither officer had been present at that incident.
Because of this, and because of evidence—the large amount of ammunition, the notebook, the earlier questioning of the glazier—the jury agreed that he had premeditated the killings, Allen was sentenced to death.
Kenneth Allen remained under a sentence of death for many years before his sentence was commuted in 2003 in controversial circumstances by embattled Governor of Illinois George Ryan. As his last act in office, Ryan commuted (to "life") the sentences of all 167 convicts on or waiting to be sent to Illinois' Death Row.
As of 2009 Kenneth Allen remains in Menard Correctional Center.
Read more about this topic: Kenneth Allen (murderer)
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“In government offices which are sensitive to the vehemence and passion of mass sentiment public men have no sure tenure. They are in effect perpetual office seekers, always on trial for their political lives, always required to court their restless constituents.”
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974)