People v. Pittman

Defendant, age 18 at time of offenses, was convicted of 1st degree murders for violent stabbing deaths of his girlfriend, age 17; her mother, age 43; and her younger sister, age 11. Court sentenced Defendant to mandatory term of natural life in prison. Eighth amendment protections, including as to mandatory sentence of natural life, are not implicated here, as Defendant was an adult at time of offenses. Sentence does not shock moral sense of community, and does not violate proportionate penalties clause.(BURKE and GORDON, concurring.)