People v. Leonard

Defendant, Richard Leonard, was convicted in a jury trial in the circuit court of Cook County of the offense of murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1975, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1) and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 30 to 60 years. The appellate court reversed defendant’s conviction and remanded the cause for a new trial (80 Ill. App. 3d 741), holding that testimony relating to certain statements of the victim, Wayne Tews, was hearsay and had been erroneously admitted. In addition, the appellate court determined that the jury should have been instructed on the lesser included offense of voluntary…