Defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and personal discharge of a firearm and was sentenced to 65 years in prison with a 25-year enhancement. Defendant raised six issues on appeal, including that he was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, the trial court erred in the admission of evidence, and that defendant was denied his right to represent himself when the trial court required him to choose between proceeding pro se and engaging an expert witness. The appellate court affirmed, finding that the trial court did not err in the admission of evidence, that the evidence, while predominately circumstantial, was sufficient to support the guilty finding, and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendant’s pro se request for funds for an expert witness. (PIERCE and HARRIS, concurring)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Evidence