People v. Mumford

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE GOLDBERG

delivered the opinion of the court:

Benny J. Mumford and Willie Ray Rankins were joindy indicted and tried before a jury for the murder of Willie Yates. Both were convicted, Mumford on the theory of accountability. Mumford was sentenced to 15 to 20 years and Rankins to 25 to 35 years. Both have appealed.

In this court separate briefs have been filed for the defendants by different attorneys. Counsel for Mumford urges that the evidence was insufficient to convict on the basis of accountability; final argument of the prosecutor was improper and the trial court erred…