People v. Johnson

Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and misdemeanor domestic battery. Defense counsel was ineffective in agreeing to join weapons charges with domestic battery charge, as there was no sound defense strategy to do so, without a precise limiting instruction to make purposes of evidence clear. Court incorrectly instructed jury, in failing to tailor IPI 3.14 based on evidence presented. Cumulative effect of errors deprived Defendant of a fair trial, and errors were intertwined such that prejudice to Defendant was amplified. Defendant should then receive new, separate trials, with precise jury instructions. (JORGENSEN and HUDSON, concurring.)