Opinion ID: 2523730
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Blackamore Incident

Text: The parties stipulated that defendant had been placed in protective custody in the Cook County jail after the Department of Corrections found credible evidence of gang threats against defendant's life. Defendant also called Ruben Granville, who had been incarcerated with defendant and Blackamore in the Cook County jail. Granville testified that prior to the stabbing, Blackamore had repeatedly told the other inmates that defendant had a contract on him under which the Satan Disciples gang was willing to pay someone to kill defendant. Granville also testified that he noticed self-inflicted scratches on defendant's arms and hand. On cross-examination, Granville acknowledged that he was present in the recreation area when defendant stabbed Blackamore. He stated that although he saw the stabbing, he could not clearly see where defendant stabbed Blackamore. Similarly, he could not see the weapon defendant was using, although he did see the shank on the ground after the incident. During its rebuttal, the State presented the stipulated testimony of UnBo Chung, an assistant State's Attorney who interviewed Granville after Blackamore was stabbed. The parties stipulated that, if called, Chung would testify that Granville told him he saw defendant stab Blackamore in the neck with a homemade knife.