Court Opinion

ID: 9713668
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 05:19:47.8669+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:19.828904
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE HEIPLE, dissenting: The trial court was correct in refusing to give an involuntary manslaughter jury instruction in this case. As the majority notes, the difference between murder and involuntary manslaughter is the mental state that accompanies conduct causing the homicide. People v. Foster, 119 Ill. 2d 69, 87 (1987). A defendant is guilty of first degree murder if he kills another, and while performing the acts that cause the death, knows that his acts create a strong probability of death or great bodily harm. 720 ILCS 5/9 — 1(a)(2) (West 1994). A defendant is guilty of involuntary manslaughter, however, if the actions are likely to cause death or great bodily harm and are performed recklessly. 720 ILCS 5/9 — 3(a) (West 1994). “Recklessness” is a conscious disregard of the substantial and unjustifiable risk that a result will follow a person’s actions. 720 ILCS 5/4 — 6 (West 1994). , A jury is to be instructed on manslaughter where there is credible evidence in the record which would support that charge. People v. Ward, 101 Ill. 2d 443, 451 (1984). Such instruction should not be given, however, if there is no evidence which would reduce the crime to involuntary manslaughter. Ward, 101 Ill. 2d at 451; People v. Simpson, 74 Ill. 2d 497, 501 (1978). The evidence in this case does not indicate reckless behavior in any way; rather, it shows that defendant acted with intent to cause great bodily harm. Defendant held a grudge against the victim, and had expressed hatred of him in the past. While out driving, defendant spotted the victim at a traffic light and followed him. A verbal altercation ensued after the victim pulled into a friend’s driveway and exited his car. The victim moved to shove defendant, whereupon defendant slapped and punched the victim. The punch was forceful enough to break the victim’s jaw and knock him to the ground. While the victim lay motionless on the ground, defendant kicked him three times, twice in the back and once in the head. A witness testified that these kicks were forceful. From these blows or a combination thereof, the victim died. In sum, defendant initiated the confrontation by stalking the victim, hit him, broke his jaw, kicked him forcefully while he was down, and left him lying on the ground. His actions were premeditated, purposeful, vicious and brutal; and it is apparent that the defendant both intended to inflict great bodily harm on the victim and that he knew or should have known that his actions created a strong probability of great bodily harm. This was not mere recklessness. Accordingly, it was not error for the trial court to refuse an involuntary manslaughter instruction. The murder conviction should be affirmed.