People v. Alexander

PRESIDING JUSTICE CARTER

delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.

Justice Schmidt concurred in the judgment and opinion.

Justice McDade specially concurred, with opinion.

OPINION

Following a jury trial, the defendant, David Alexander, was convicted of first degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9—1(a)(2) (West 2006)) for the stabbing death of Sylvester “Mike” Polnitz. The defendant claimed the stabbing was self-defense. Alternatively, the defendant presented a second-degree-murder theory based upon an unreasonable belief in the justified use of force. The jury rejected both theories and found the…