People v. Beard

Defendant, Anthony Beard, appeals his conviction following a jury trial pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 603 (134 Ill. 2d R. 603). Defendant seeks to overturn his criminal conviction for first degree murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 9—1(a)(1)) and his sentencing under the Habitual Criminal Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 33B—1) (the Act).

As defendant raises no issues concerning the underlying facts of his case, the background of this appeal can be briefly summarized. On February 17, 1989, defendant was charged by indictment with three counts of murder, one count of armed…