People v. Brown

This is an appeal from the judgment of the circuit court, sitting with a jury, convicting the defendant, Joe Willie Brown, of the crime of murder.

The issues presented for review are: (1) whether the defendant was denied a fair trial when the court denied defendant’s request to add a witness to his list of witnesses at the close of the State’s case; (2) whether the defendant was denied a fair trial due to the prosecutor’s comments during closing argument; and (3) whether the defendant was denied a proper sentencing hearing.

At trial, Elijah Scales testified that on May 18, 1978, he saw James…