People v. Ward

Following a jury trial, the defendant, Joseph A. Ward, was found guilty of the offense of residential burglary and sentenced to serve a term of seven years in the Department of Corrections. Defendant appeals, contending that he was denied a fair trial by the admission into evidence at trial of plea-related discussions he initiated with the police and by remarks by the prosecutor insinuating that the defendant’s alibi witness had been paid to testify.

The testimony at trial revealed the following facts. On June 2, 1987, at approximately 4:17 a.m., a man made an unauthorized entry to the home of…