People v. Melchor

JUSTICE ROBERT E. GORDON

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant Efren Melchor was convicted after a jury trial of first degree murder and sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment. On appeal, this court reversed his conviction, holding that defendant’s sixth amendment right to confrontation was violated when the trial court admitted the former testimony of Luis Ortiz, who was the sole eyewitness to identify defendant as the shooter. Ortiz had previously testified about the murder at the trial of a codefendant but had died prior to defendant’s trial. People v. Melchor, 362 Ill. App. 3d 335…