People v. Shelton

Following a jury trial, defendants, John and Derryl Shelton, were found guilty of aggravated battery and armed violence. Derryl Shelton was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. John Shelton was sentenced to three years’ probation conditioned on six months’ imprisonment. On appeal, both defendants contend that (1) the trial court erred in refusing to submit a self-defense instruction to the jury; (2) the jury was improperly instructed on the law of accountability and on the weight to be given defendants’ testimony; (3) the hearsay testimony of the arresting officer should have been excluded;…