People v. Crutchfield

Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of first-degree murder of his girlfriend's 6-year-old son, and sentenced to natural life in prison. Illinois Supreme Court invalidated provision mandating life imprisonment for adult murderers of children. Court made proper inquiry of Defendant personally in court, and court's determination that Defendant's claims of ineffective assistance of counsel lacked merit and pertained to trial strategy is not manifestly erroneous.Defendant failed to overcome presumption that counsel's action or inaction was the result of sound trial strategy. Counsel's decision to not impeach three instances of testimony of victim's mother was sound trial strategy, especially as counsel thoroughly impeached her at trial by informing jury of her inconsistent statements and lack of credibility. (WELCH and STEWART, concurring.)