Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of first degree murder and robbery. State proved Defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of first degree murder; autopsy showed that victim suffered at least 6 blunt force trauma blows to his face consistent with strikes from a fist.Jury could reasonably have concluded that sometime during his violent encounter with victim, who was frail and small, kn ew that blows he inflicted on victim created strong probability of death or great bodily harm; no specialized physiological knowledge was required to know that. Court's failure to instruct jury that IPI Criminal 7.15 also applied to involuntary manslaughter was not error. No error in admitting Defendant's statements, made in police interview, as to his criminal history, illicit drug use, and "going to jail all his life", as they were not used to argue propensity to commit crimes. (KNECHT and APPLETON, concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Jury Instructions