People v. Blackwell

Following a bench trial, defendant, Marcus Blackwell, was found guilty of first degree murder and attempted murder. He was sentenced consecutively to 84 years’ imprisonment for the first degree murder conviction and to 27 years’ imprisonment for the attempted murder conviction. The trial court imposed an extended-term sentence for the murder under section 5 — 5—3.2(b)(4)(ii) of the Unified Code of Corrections on the basis that the murder victim was 71 years old. 730 ILCS 5/5 — 5—3.2(b)(4)(ii) (West 1998). The trial court also determined that defendant was eligible for consecutive sentences…