People v. Thomas

PRESIDING JUSTICE HOFFMAN

delivered the opinion of the

court:

The defendant, Robert Thomas, appeals from a jury’s verdict convicting him of two counts of first degree murder, two counts of theft, and one count of aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, pars. 9 — 1(a)(2), 16 — 1(a)(1); ch. 95½, par. 4 — 103.2(7).) We consider: (1) whether it was clearly erroneous for the trial judge to find that the State did not discriminate on the basis of race when it exercised its peremptory challenges during jury selection; (2) whether the State’s closing argument…