People v. Belk

Docket No. 92937–Agenda 20–September 2002.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellant, v. JOHN BELK, Appellee.

Opinion filed January 24, 2003.

The sole issue in this case is whether aggravated possession of a stolen motor vehicle can be considered to be a forcible felony for purposes of the felony-murder rule. The defendant, John Belk, stole a van and, while being pursued by police at a high rate of speed, crashed into another vehicle, killing both occupants. Following a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County, Belk was convicted of two counts of felony murder and one count of…