People v. Haynes

Defendant Terrance Haynes was convicted of first-degree murder after a jury trial and was sentenced to a term of 45 years’ imprisonment. On appeal, defendant claims that the trial court erred in denying his posttrial motion alleging ineffectiye assistance of counsel without appointing substitute counsel. We reverse and remand.

Facts

Defendant was convicted of killing Cezaire Murrell on May 27, 1999, in Kankakee, Illinois. Approximately one week prior to the killing, Murrell had assaulted the defendant at a shopping mall, punching and kicking him. On May 27, the defendant was on the front porch…