Court Opinion

ID: 9885089
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-06 03:29:40.16947+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:48:43.814176
License: Public Domain

MR. JUSTICE RYAN, dissenting in part: Rather than reverse and remand for a new trial as the opinion of the court concludes should be done, I would reverse the conviction of the defendant, as I am of the opinion that the evidence is insufficient to sustain a verdict of guilty. A court of review will attach great weight to the findings of the trier of fact; however, these findings are not conclusive. It is incumbent upon the prosecution to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It is therefore the duty of the reviewing court to examine the evidence to determine whether this burden has been sustained. (People v. Butler, 28 Ill.2d 88, 91; People v. Dawson, 22 Ill.2d 260, 264; People v. McGee, 21 Ill.2d 440, 444.) When the evidence is not sufficient to remove all reasonable doubt of defendant’s guilt and to create an abiding conviction that he is guilty of the crime charged, it is the duty of the reviewing court to reverse the judgment. People v. Reese, 34 Ill.2d 77, 80; People v. White, 26 Ill.2d 199, 203; People v. Qualls, 21 Ill.2d 252, 257; People v. Wilson, 1 Ill.2d 178, 188; People v. De Stefano, 23 Ill.2d 427, 431-432. Considering the testimony of the State’s witness, it is clearly established that the decedent violently broke into the apartment and was shot within a matter of seconds thereafter. The police officers testified that the door had been forced open with such violence that the screws holding the chain lock were torn from the wood. A man who was in a nearby apartment testified for the State that the decedent had stopped at his apartment and asked if Brenda Giley lived in the apartment house. A few minutes thereafter he heard a commotion like a door being forced open and then heard three shots which followed in a matter of less than five seconds. This evidence produced by the State supports the version of the killing as given by the defendant and Brenda. The appellate court referred to the fact that the defendant and Brenda made no effort to contact the police after the shooting. It also referred to the fact that the pathologist gave as his opinion that it would be impossible for the decedent to stand on his feet or run any distance after he had been shot, whereas the body was found at a spot where the decedent would have had to descend a flight of stairs and travel another 75 feet. I do not consider these facts as contradicting the defendant’s position which had to a great extent been corroborated by the State’s evidence. The State had the burden of proof and I do not consider the evidence sufficient to remove all reasonable doubt from my mind as to the defendant’s guilt and to create an abiding conviction that he is in fact guilty of murder. I would therefore reverse the conviction of the defendant without remanding the cause. UNDERWOOD, C.J., and SCHAEFER, J., join in this partial dissent.