People v. Clifton

In these two consolidated cases, codefendants Melvin Clifton and Vincent Galloway appeal from the contemporaneous respective judgments of the trial court convicting them each of first degree murder, attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm. Galloway argues on appeal that portions of the gang-related testimony presented at trial were hearsay; both he and Clifton argue that such testimony was irrelevant and prejudicial and was offered solely to inflame the jury. Clifton argues that because the name of one of the witnesses providing that testimony was submitted on the…