People v. Westfield

Following a bench trial, defendant Duncan Westfield was found guilty of criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse and unlawful restraint, with the two lesser charges merging into the criminal sexual assault charges. Defendant was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. The issues raised on appeal are whether defendant was proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and whether the trial court imposed the burden of proof on defendant.

The evidence presented at trial established that about 11 p.m. on June 26, 1988, complainant, a 34-year-old homeless woman, went to Lincoln Park in Chicago. As…