People v. Coles

The defendants, George Coles and Kevin Johnson, were convicted of armed robbery after a joint trial in the circuit court of Cook County. The Appellate Court, First District, reversed both convictions on the grounds that the trial court’s restriction of inquiry into the alleged bias of the chief prosecution witness violated the defendants’ right to confront and cross-examine the witnesses against them. (55 Ill. App. 3d 528, 529-30.) We granted the State’s petition for leave to appeal, and we now affirm as to defendant Coles and vacate and remand the cause with directions, as to defendant…