People v. Rollins

Defendant Joseph C. Rollins — who admittedly killed James Johnson on April 2, 1979 — was convicted of armed violence (based on the underlying felony of voluntary manslaughter), and was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment, after a jury found beyond a reasonable doubt that he was not justified in shooting Johnson. (See sections 9 — 2 and 33A — 1 through 33A — 3 of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 38, pars. 9 — 2 and 33A — 1 through 33A — 3).) He appeals, contending that his conviction should be reversed for the following reasons:(1) The trial court erred when it ordered the…