People v Crawford

Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of first degree murders and aggravated criminal sexual assaults of 11 women, and attempted first degree murder and aggravated criminal sexual assault of a twelfth victim, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Remand for Batson hearing is unnecessary because record supports State’s race-neutral explanation for its peremptory challenge, and Defendant did not provide support for his claim when trial court requested it or in his post-trial motion. Evidence of Defendant’s guilt as to murder of twelfth victim was sufficient, where independent evidence tended to corroborate video-recorded confession. No denial of confrontation right when medical examiner who performed autopsy did not testify but his report was recounted to jury by another medical examiner. (CONNORS and CUNNINGHAM, concurring.)