People v. Simmons

PRESIDING JUSTICE HUTCHINSON

delivered the opinion of the court:

In 1996 a jury convicted defendant, Dana D. Simmons, of the offense of first-degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9 — 1(a)(1) (West 1994)). The trial court imposed a sentence of 80 years’ imprisonment. Defendant appealed, and this court reversed his conviction and remanded the cause for a new trial. See People v. Simmons, No. 2—96—1077 (August 24, 1998) (unpublished order pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 23). In February 2000 defendant was retried, and a jury again convicted defendant of the offense of first-degree murder; the trial court…