People v. Rivera

On September 27, 1992, Juan Garcia was brought into the emergency room of Christ Hospital. He had been shot in the head. The bullet had entered his right temple, passed through his brain, and lodged under his skin over the left temple. He was in a coma. Surgery was performed immediately. He survived and eventually testified at the jury trial of Wilfredo Rivera, the man accused of being legally responsible for shooting him.

Rivera was found guilty of aggravated battery with a firearm. He was sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He raises several issues in support of…