Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Hearsay
Defendant was convicted of 1st-degree murder. Court erred by allowing jury to see content of text messages sent the night of the murder, which contained inadmissible hearsay regarding Defendant's rumored involvement in murder. As State did not identify who sent Defendant these text messages or where sender received information. Thus, Defendant was not able to challenge reliability of person sending message or persons spreading information. Error was so serious it requires reversal and remand for new trial. (HOLDER WHITE and KNECHT, concurring.)