People v. Richardson

Defendant, Harold Richardson, was convicted of first degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9 — 1(a)(1) (West 1994)) and aggravated criminal sexual assault (720 ILCS 5/12— 14(a)(2) (West 1994)) following a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County, and sentenced to consecutive prison terms of 34 and 6 years respectively. On direct appeal, defendant sought a new sentencing hearing, arguing that the trial court improperly considered multiple victim impact statements in violation of the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act (Act) (725 ILCS 120/1 et seq. (West 1998)), and that the provision of the…