People v. Raso

Following a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant was found guilty of first degree murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 9—1) and sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment. On appeal, defendant contends solely that his conviction should be reversed because the record does not reflect that he waived his constitutional right to testify at trial.

The charges in this case stemmed from a gang-related, drive-by shooting which occurred around midnight on September 16, 1988, at the comer of 46th Street and South Honoré in Chicago. Defendant was identified by two witnesses as one of…