Opinion ID: 3134950
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Improper Evidence Presented at Sentencing

Text: The defendant next argues that testimony from the victim’s fiance about her relationship with the victim was irrelevant to any issue at the eligibility phase and denied the defendant a fair hearing, citing People v. Brisbon , 106 Ill. 2d 342 (1985), and People v. Ramirez , 98 Ill. 2d 439 (1983). The defendant further argues that his eighth amendment right to a fair sentencing hearing was violated when the trial court allowed evidence from the victim’s family members that they believed the death penalty should be imposed in this case. People v. Towns , 174 Ill. 2d 453 (1996). The defendant acknowledges that he waived both of the issues by failing to object at the respective phases of the sentencing hearing; however, he argues that the matters should be considered on appeal because they amounted to plain error and his counsel was ineffective for failing to object. In response, the State essentially concedes that the admission of the complained-of evidence was error but argues that it was harmless. Given the State’s acknowledgment that these matters amounted to error, we do not believe that they are likely to recur on remand and therefore we will not address them further here.