People v. Lofton

Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of three counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted armed robbery, and sentenced to natural life in prison to be served consecutively with 20 years for attempt, to be served consecutively to 75-year sentence for prior, unrelated murder. Ineffective assistance of counsel in defense counsel's failure to object to witness' written statement, as substantive evidence, that he heard Defendant say he shot victim, as witness did not perceive the events that were subject of statement; improperly admitted statement was bolstered by detective's repetitious testimony ot it.Defense counsel erred in allowing other witness' double hearsay grand jury testimony to go to jury in written form. (HUTCHINSON, concurring; ZENOFF, dissenting.)