People v. Ortiz

Following separate bench trials, defendants, Angel Torres and Edgar Luis Ortiz, each were found guilty of murder, aggravated kidnapping, and armed robbery. They each were sentenced to concurrent prison terms of 70 years, 30 years, and 15 years, respectively.

In their consolidated appeal, defendants contend that they were not proved guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt. Ortiz also contends that he was deprived of effective assistance of counsel; that alibi witnesses were improperly impeached; and that the State improperly introduced evidence of other crimes in connection with the Ortiz…