People v. Sanders

The defendant, Willie B. Sanders, was indicted on two counts of first degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9 — 1(a)(1), (a)(2) (West 1996)) in connection with the death of Jacqueline D. Trammell-Anderson (the victim). Prior to trial, the State filed a series of motions in limine seeking to exclude the defendant from offering evidence of the victim’s violent behavior between 1977 and 1996. The trial court granted some of the motions, denied others, and denied others in part. The State filed a certificate of impairment and appeals from the trial court’s ruling.

On appeal, the State contends that the trial…