People v. Whitehead

PRESIDING JUSTICE HARTMAN

delivered the opinion of the court:

On appeal from his conviction for murder and sentence of 35 years’ imprisonment following a bench trial, defendant presents for our review the questions whether: (1) evidence of his phencyclidine (PGP) intoxication improperly barred consideration of an insanity defense; (2) the circuit court erred in considering prejudicial testimony of his prior misconduct; and (3) his sentence is excessive.

Defendant first began dating Sheener Taylor, the murder victim, in approximately June 1984. They had at least one argument during which he…