People v. Cunningham

PRESIDING JUSTICE WHITE

delivered the opinion of the court:

Following a jury trial, defendant, Willie B. Cunningham, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to a prison term of seven years. On appeal, defendant contends that:. (1) the State did not prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; (2) he was deprived of a fair trial because the trial court, sua sponte, gave Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 2.04 (2d ed. 1981) (hereinafter IPI Criminal 2d No. 2.04) to the jury; (3) he was deprived of a fair trial because of prejudicial and inflammatory statements made…