Court Opinion

ID: 9723561
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 10:20:05.927437+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:49.763235
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE THEIS, specially concurring: I concur with the result reached by the majority in this case, but because I must comment on the majority’s analysis of two issues, I specially concur. First, I must comment on defendant’s argument that the State improperly used Fomond’s prior consistent statement as substantive evidence. During the jury instruction conference, the assistant State’s Attorney assured the trial court that she was not introducing the statement “as substantive evidence.” However, she in fact did use this statement substantively when she admitted the statement into evidence, gave it to the jury during its deliberations, and argued the truth of that statement during closing arguments. Additionally at the jury instruction conference, the prosecutor tendered IPI Criminal 3d No. 3.11, which, she indicated, would explain to the jury not to use this statement substantively. However, IPI Criminal 3d No. 3.11 concerns the use of prior inconsistent statements and makes no mention of prior consistent statements. IPI Criminal 3d No. 3.11. In fact, the instruction is entitled “Prior Inconsistent Statements” and the Committee Note clearly states that this instruction should be used when the jury heard earlier inconsistent statements. IPI Criminal 3d No. 3.11, Committee Note. Thus, this instruction was inappropriate here where the issue concerned solely Fomond’s prior consistent statement. However, despite the fact that the State offered, and the trial court gave, the incorrect jury instruction, I find this issue to be waived where defense counsel did not offer his own jury instruction and in fact, agreed with the State to tender IPI Criminal 3d No. 3.11. Additionally, I must address one comment made by the prosecutor in closing arguments. The majority never specifically addresses this comment, finding that nearly all alleged improper comments were waived when defendant failed to object to them. The majority also finds that all of the complained-of comments were not improper. However, because I find that this comment was blatantly improper, I must mention it here. In closing argument, while addressing the fact that Lockhart failed to identify defendant until two years after the murder, the prosecutor argued: “[Lockhart] walked in[to the gas station], and she saw somebody she knew, that man right there (indicating) Antoine Smith, somebody she knew from the Evanston area. And she knew that he knew her as well. So, we are not talking about a one-way identification here. She told you their eyes met. They looked straight at each other. * * But she was so overwrought with fear. The best she could do is give [the police] some statements, some description, something, because she knew that she knew the offender in this case, and she knew he knew her as well. She looked at Antoine, and she recognized him, and he recognized her and she ran out.” (Emphasis added.) These comments were improper because they are clearly not based upon the evidence in this case. People v. Johnson, 208 Ill. 2d 53, 115, 803 N.E.2d 405, 440 (2003). With respect to this subject, Lockhart testified solely that she looked at defendant and he looked at her. While she recognized him, Lockhart never testified that defendant recognized her or that he knew her. Because these comments were not based on the evidence, I disagree with the majority and would find they were improper. However, I ultimately agree with the majority that such comments were waived. Accordingly, I concur with the result of the majority in affirming this case.