Defendant was convicted after a bench trial of nine counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of aggravated battery and was sentenced to three consecutive terms of life imprisonment followed by an additional consecutive term of 50 years. Defendant appealed, arguing numerous errors including that the trial court violated his right to due process by improperly relying on an exhibit to impute motive, mis-stating the testimony of a witness, allowing the introduction of prior inconsistent statements, in imposing three consecutive terms of natural life imprisonment, and for failing to appoint new counsel after a preliminary Krankel inquiry. The appellate court affirmed, finding that the trial court did not err in its consideration of the evidence, that he was not prejudiced by the allegedly ineffective assistance of counsel, that the trial court was not manifestly erroneous in its ruling regarding the preliminary Krankel hearing, and that the trial court properly sentenced defendant to a natural-life term for each of the three victims. (CAVANAGH and ZENOFF, concurring)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Due Process
Sentencing