People v. Phillips

This case presents question as to whether trial court, in prosecution on murder and attempted murder charges, properly introduced grand jury testimonies of three witnesses identifying defendant as culprit where, at trial, said witnesses denied identifying defendant as culprit when speaking to police at police station? Appellate Court rejected defendant’s argument that grand jury testimonies were inadmissible prior consistent statements even though they were consistent with written statements made by said witnesses that had been previously introduced into evidence, where grand jury testimonies were contradictory to said witnesses’ trial testimonies. Appellate Court also rejected defendant’s argument that prosecutor made improper reference to gang activity during closing argument, and that trial court erred under section 115-12 in admitting hearsay statements of several witnesses that inculpated defendant and were made prior to any identification procedures being conducted.