Opinion ID: 2077052
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Defendant argues that the evidence produced at trial was insufficient to prove him guilty of first degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendant maintains that the State proved only that, at the time of his arrest, defendant possessed the weapon that shot Bushong. No credible evidence, defendant argues, placed him in the store at the time of the murder and robbery, and no credible evidence proved defendant actually murdered Bushong. A criminal conviction will be set aside, based upon an insufficiency of the evidence, only when the evidence that was presented at trial is so unreasonable, improbable or unsatisfactory that there remains a reasonable doubt of the defendant's guilt. People v. Smith, 141 Ill.2d 40, 55, 152 Ill.Dec. 218, 565 N.E.2d 900 (1990). Upon review, the question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Collins, 106 Ill.2d 237, 261, 87 Ill.Dec. 910, 478 N.E.2d 267 (1985). Defendant's challenge regarding the sufficiency of the evidence is directed primarily at the testimony of three State's witnesses: Lavarro Jenkins, Fred Jones and Andrew Towns. Defendant contends that the testimony of each of these witnesses was impeached and that each witness had a motive to provide the police with evidence implicating defendant in Bushong's murder. Defendant asserts, for example, that Jenkins' testimony lacks credibility because he stole a car in February 1995, and because, at the time of trial, there were two felony charges pending against him. With respect to Fred Jones, defendant points out that at the time Jones testified, he was incarcerated on a charge of first degree murder. Jones admitted that, in exchange for his testimony in this case, the State would dismiss the murder charge and Jones would plead guilty to the lesser offense of armed robbery. Defendant further notes that Jones' statements to police changed frequently and that Jones implicated defendant in the robbery and in Bushong's murder only after Jones was charged with murder and had retained a lawyer. Lastly, defendant points out that Andrew Towns also told the police conflicting stories. Towns did not reveal that defendant had implicated himself in the murder until after the police had informed Towns that he could be charged with a weapons violation for having stolen his father's.38-caliber handgun. It is the function of the jury, as the trier of fact, to determine the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. People v. Tye, 141 Ill.2d 1, 13, 152 Ill.Dec. 249, 565 N.E.2d 931 (1990). Here, the jury was given this opportunity, as the biases and inconsistent statements of Jones, Towns and Jenkins were fully aired. Moreover, we have carefully reviewed the testimony of each witness and we cannot say that it is so unreasonable or unsatisfactory as to be unworthy of belief. Having found no reason to disturb the jury's implicit findings of credibility regarding the State's principal witnesses, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient to support the jury's verdict. Jones and Towns both testified that defendant admitted to Bushong's murder. Jones testified that, shortly after the murder, defendant told him that he and a couple of boys went up in Belleville to rob the convenience store and they shot the lady. Towns testified that defendant told him he had robbed the store and that he shot the bitch who worked at the store. In addition, as defendant concedes, the weapon found in defendant's possession at the time of his arrest was the weapon used to murder Bushong, and several witnesses testified that defendant was in possession of that gun both before and after Bushong's murder. The evidence also showed that defendant is the same height as the murderer and that both defendant and the murderer are left-handed. Viewing the evidence described above in a light most favorable to the State, we conclude that the State met its burden. The evidence was sufficient to support the jury's verdict finding defendant guilty of first degree murder.