People v. Mitchell

The defendant, David Mitchell, appeals his eight-year sentence for aggravated battery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 12—4(a)).

At trial, Officer Greg Piazza testified the defendant had lived with Piazza’s sister, Deanna, until about a year before the offense. On April 14, 1989, Deanna married another man. After Piazza attended the wedding reception, he, his fiancee, and another woman went to a tavern. Around midnight they left the tavern to go to Baxter’s Bar and Grill.

As they walked toward Baxter’s, Piazza saw the defendant standing across the street. The defendant crossed the street and…