People v. Montgomery

Following a bench trial defendant, Ralph Montgomery, was found guilty of aggravated battery and was sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections for a term of two to six years. Defendant appeals and contends that: (1) he was not proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; and (2) the trial court erred in excluding testimony concerning the victim’s violent character.

We affirm. The pertinent facts adduced at trial follow.

Reginald Bonds

The victim, Benny Oliver, is his brother. On March 3,1974, in the late afternoon, he was present in his brother’s home. Bonds and his brother were gambling on…