People v. Lane

This case presents question as to whether trial court properly sentenced defendant to two concurrent terms of natural life imprisonment, under circumstances where defendant was found guilty of shooting pregnant girlfriend in head during confrontation with police. While defendant argued that trial court erred in finding that he was subject to mandatory life sentencing because unborn child was “victim,” and thus he was not convicted of murdering more than one victim so as qualify for natural life sentence, Appellate Court, in affirming trial court, found that mandatory life sentence was proper, where: (1) defendant was convicted of both murder of girlfriend and intentional homicide of unborn child; and (2) relevant statute required that intentional homicide of unborn child be sentenced same as first degree murder. Appellate Court also found that under instant circumstances, there were two “victims” so as to support imposition of natural life sentence.