Court Opinion

ID: 9708921
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 03:35:32.933762+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:44.719282
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE JIGANTI, dissenting: The defendant testified that he pulled his gun and shot Mario Cantu only after Cantu began to remove a gun from his pocket and pivoted to shoot the defendant. The defense hinges on the reasonableness of the defendant’s belief at the time he shot and killed Cantu. If his belief that the use of force was necessary was reasonable, his act is an act of self-defense and he is entitled to be acquitted under section 7 — 1 of the Illinois Criminal Code of 1961. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 7 — 1).) If, however, his belief was unreasonable he is guilty of voluntary manslaughter under section 9 — 2(b). (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 9 — 2(b).) The failure of the court to give the instruction on voluntary manslaughter prevented the defendant from having the jury properly consider the issue central to his defense, that is, the reasonableness of his belief. The majority concedes that the trial court erroneously failed to give the voluntary manslaughter instruction but contends that the error is harmless because the evidence is clear and convincing. In my judgment the evidence is anything but clear and convincing, particularly when one considers that the subjective nature of the defendant’s defense rests upon the reasonableness of his belief that the use of force was necessary. Accordingly, I would reverse the defendant’s conviction for murder and remand this case for a new trial.