People v. Pitchford 

Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Evidence
Citation
Case Number: 
No. 1-07-2697
Decision Date: 
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co., 2nd Div.
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Justice: 
CUNNINGHAM
Defendant was convicted of first-degree murders of his girlfriend and her father. Based on totality of evidence, including written confession and testimony of aunt that Defendant had admitted how he killed victims, a rational trier of fact could find essential elements of first-degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt. No prejudice from court allowing one medical examiner, who had not performed autopsies, to testify as to autopsy reports, as cause and manner of death were not in issue, and if error it was not a structural error. Because Defendant chose not to testify, his argument that the court improperly reserved its ruling on admissibility of his prior convictions is not reviewable.