Defendant appealed from his convictions for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated discharge of a firearm, and his aggregate 40-year sentence. On appeal, defendant argued that his conviction should be reduced to second degree murder because no rational trier of fact could have found that mitigating factors were not present, that the State failed to prove that he acted with specific intent to kill without lawful justification, that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing admission of a 911 call into evidence, that his trial counsel had a conflict of interest, and that the circuit court abused its discretion in sentencing defendant. The appellate court rejected defendant’s arguments and affirmed his convictions and sentence. (MIKVA and ODEN JOHNSON, concurring)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Self-Defense