People v. Allison

Defendant John Allison appeals from his conviction by a jury of first degree murder and armed violence, charging that the trial court (1) erroneously prohibited him from cross-examining the State’s only eyewitness as to who did the shooting, regarding her refusal to be interviewed by the defense, (2) impermissibly qualified an expert in gunshot residue analysis, and (3) improperly admitted irrelevant and prejudicial evidence.

The victim, Richard Barnett, was shot and killed in front of 154 North Pine in the City of Chicago in the early morning hours of July 31, 1987. Sometime prior to the…