People v. Brazziel 

Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Cross-Examination
Citation
Case Number: 
No. 1-08-1455
Decision Date: 
Monday, November 22, 2010
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co., 1st Div.
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Justice: 
LAMPKIN
Defendant was convicted of first-degree murder proximately caused by a personal discharge of a firearm. Strength of evidence was overwhelming against Defendant, including two eyewitnesses who identified Defendant as the shooter, and four additional witnesses via handwritten statements; thus, Defendant's forfeiture of voir dire objections not excused based on first prong of plain error. Court properly allowed cross-examination of defense witnesses which was eliciting testimony as to their credibility and bias, not attacking their morality but attacking fact that they did not report what occurred on the night in question. State's closing arguments were properly allowed as they were in direct relation to testimony elicited on cross-examination. (HALL and PATTI, concurring.)