Detective Maslanka then admitted that he wrote in a supplementary report that he learned defendant's age after he provided defendant with his Miranda rights. The prosecutor did not attempt to rehabilitate Detective Maslanka on this issue on re-direct examination. That is correct. You may finish your answer, Detective. Through investigation it was learned that approximately 2 days prior to his arrest Robert King had been in area 3 as a suspect in a separate homicide investigation.
Defendant maintains that introduction of the other crime evidence constitutes reversible error.
The State responds that evidence of the separate murder investigation was properly introduced to dispel the inference that Detective Maslanka lied about when he learned defendant's age. Evidence of other crimes is not admissible to show a defendant's propensity to engage in criminal activity. However, other crimes evidence may be admitted to show knowledge, intent motive, design, plan or identification. 255 Ill. App. The decision of whether to admit evidence of other crimes is within the sound discretion of the trial court.