People v. Ross

Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of 1st degree murder and of having discharged a firearm that caused  death.Court properly admitted evidence of other crimes, as to prior battery conviction, as it was admissible under common law and Section 115-7.4 of Code of Criminal Procedure. Statements of Defendant admitting to gun ownership established material fact that Defendant had possessed guns and was familiar with them. Evidence of guilt, without firearms evidence, was overwhelming, and thus error in admitting his statements about his ownership of firearms was harmless. (HUTCHINSON and BURKE, concurring.)