People v. Howard

PRESIDING JUSTICE NASH

delivered the opinion of the court:

After trial by jury defendant, Lester Keith Howard, was found guilty of murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 38, par. 9—1) and home invasion (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 38, par. 12—11(a)(2)). He was sentenced to natural life imprisonment for murder and to an extended term of 60 years for home invasion. Defendant appeals, contending: (1) he was denied the effective assistance of counsel; (2) the State failed to preserve evidence, thus depriving him of the right to due process and to confront witnesses; (3) his guilt of home invasion was not…