People v. Beviel

PRESIDING JUSTICE GREIMAN

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant James Beviel was convicted of aggravated battery and armed violence and sentenced to eight years in prison. On appeal, defendant argues that he was denied a proper Batson hearing where he made a prima facie showing of racial discrimination in the State’s use of peremptory challenges during jury selection.

Defendant is a 40-year-old African-American convicted for striking an acquaintance with a brick, which resulted in the loss of an eye. During voir dire, the prosecution exercised three of its seven peremptory challenges…