Opinion ID: 2053918
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Appellate Decisions

Text: The question before us is whether attempted second degree murder is an offense recognized in Illinois. The districts of the appellate court are split on this issue. The First District has held that no offense of attempted second degree murder exists in Illinois. ( Lopez, 245 Ill.App.3d 41, 185 Ill.Dec. 195, 614 N.E.2d 329; People v. Aliwoli (1992), 238 Ill.App.3d 602, 179 Ill.Dec. 515, 606 N.E.2d 347 (provocation); Cruz, 248 Ill.App.3d 473, 188 Ill.Dec. 21, 618 N.E.2d 591; People v. Williams (1991), 220 Ill.App.3d 460, 163 Ill. Dec. 162, 581 N.E.2d 113 (imperfect self-defense).) However, the Second District ( People v. Austin (1991), 215 Ill.App.3d 323, 158 Ill.Dec. 904, 574 N.E.2d 1297 (imperfect self-defense)) and Third District ( People v. Moore (1990), 204 Ill.App.3d 694, 149 Ill.Dec. 751, 562 N.E.2d 215 (provocation)) have found that such a crime does exist. The Fourth District has not addressed the issue, but has assumed that the crime exists. (See People v. Flaugher (1992), 232 Ill.App.3d 864, 876, 174 Ill.Dec. 194, 598 N.E.2d 391 (provocation).) Finally, the Fifth District has concluded that attempted second degree murder does not exist in Illinois. People v. Fletcher (1993), 255 Ill.App.3d 206, 193 Ill.Dec. 64, 625 N.E.2d 1185 (imperfect self-defense).