People v. Whitfield

On November 6, 1989, Travis Whitfield was convicted of possession of a stolen motor vehicle and possession of burglary tools. On appeal he contends: (1) the trial court abused its discretion in permitting the State to reopen its case in chief in order to cure a deficiency in its evidence which defendant pointed out in his motion for a directed finding of not guilty, and (2) defendant’s waiver of jury after the State rested its case was not knowing and intelligent where, after the waiver, the trial court permitted the State to reopen its case and introduce highly damaging evidence against…