Opinion ID: 2052374
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Testimony of TQ Regarding Conversations Between Defendant and Natalie

Text: Defendant next challenges, on hearsay grounds, the admission of TQ's testimony regarding conversations between defendant and Natalie. First, defendant argues that the trial court erred in admitting TQ's testimony regarding defendant's having stolen Natalie's clothes in June 1992. On direct examination, TQ related that defendant later came to the apartment and asked Natalie to let him in. When Natalie refused, defendant said, I'm not going to do anything to you. When Natalie refused again, defendant said, I'll give you your clothes back. Natalie relented. Defendant then tried to give Natalie the keys to his apartment. Natalie told defendant that she did not want the keys. TQ also testified about a conversation between defendant and Natalie on the night of the murders. TQ stated that, on that night, defendant had earlier come to Natalie's apartment. Defendant asked Natalie to let him in. When Natalie refused, defendant said, I'm not going to hurt you. Defendant argues that this testimony regarding conversations between defendant and Natalie was inadmissible hearsay. According to defendant, these conversations were prejudicial because they portrayed him in a negative light. Defendant has waived this issue by failing to object at trial to TQ's testimony. See Enoch, 122 Ill.2d at 186, 119 Ill.Dec. 265, 522 N.E.2d 1124. Defendant argues, however, that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to object to this testimony. We find that defendant has failed to establish the requisite prejudice under Strickland. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2068, 80 L.Ed.2d at 698. There is no reasonable probability that the outcome of defendant's trial would have been different had trial counsel objected to this testimony, particularly in light of the fact that a substantial amount of other properly admitted evidence in this trial portrayed defendant in a much more negative light.