People v. Van Broughton

Defendant brings this appeal after a jury had convicted him of the murder of Mary Ann Combs. He contends that his conviction was based upon an improperly admitted dying declaration and the testimony of an incompetent seven-year-old child.. Further, assuming the conviction was proper, he contends the sentence of 75 to 150 years was excessive.

The record discloses that on the morning of 'May 17, 1973, Ms. Combs was at home with Kennard' Combs, her seven-year-old son, two of her other children, her friends Ellis and Jackie Walker, and defendant. They were all temporarily sharing the same…