People v. Petrov

Defendant was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder under a theory of accountability for the death of her five-month-old daughter. Defendant argued on appeal that the State failed to prove her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, that trial counsel was ineffective, and that the trial court judge erred when she relied on her personal knowledge to discredit defendant’s testimony. The appellate court reversed, finding that the defendant was denied due process when the trial court relied on her own personal knowledge and experience in determining that defendant lacked credibility. (MIKVA and C.A. WALKER, concurring)