People v. Lawrence

Defendant appeals from a conviction following a bench trial for leaving the scene of an accident in violation of section 11 — 401(a) of the Motor Vehicle Code. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 95%, par. 11 — 401(a).) After a hearing in aggravation and mitigation the court fined him $200 and sentenced him to probation for one year. On appeal defendant contends: (1) that he was not proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and (2) that section 11 — 401(a) violates due process of law in not requiring any sort of guilty knowledge or intent for conviction.

At trial, John Chrusciel, a fifteen year old boy,…