People v. Cooper

Following a bench trial, defendant Gerard Cooper was convicted of murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1(a)) and was sentenced to 20 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. On appeal, defendant contends that: (1) he was not proven guilty of murder beyond a reasonable doubt; (2) at most, his conduct constituted involuntary manslaughter; (3) three prior consistent statements of the State’s key witness were erroneously introduced; and (4) the trial court erred in denying his motion for a new trial based on newly discovered evidence. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.

Th…