People v. Smith

PRESIDING JUSTICE STAMOS

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant was convicted of murder in a jury trial and was sentenced to natural life imprisonment. He appeals his conviction and sentence.

The evidence adduced at trial showed that on the afternoon of December 18, 1980, defendant and Leon Moore, the State’s principal witness, were on the corner of 61st and Calumet in Chicago selling drugs to the occupants of automobiles stopped at the intersection. At approximately 1 p.m., Maurice Dukes arrived on foot at the corner and began talking to several of defendant’s customers. Defendant told…