People v. Beaman

I respectfully dissent. I would reverse the conviction and remand for a new trial.

The trial court gave careful consideration to this petition for post-conviction relief. One of my disagreements with the trial court, however, is its holding that evidence that the crime was committed by the individual referred to as “John Doe” could not be admitted. The trial court cites People v, Thomas, 145 Ill. App. 3d 1, 13, 495 N.E.2d 639, 647 (1986), for the proposition that “if the circumstances are too remote or speculative, such evidence is properly excluded.” This rule has been criticized as a…