People v. Brooks

Following a jury trial, defendant Lawrence Brooks was convicted of attempted murder, armed violence and aggravated battery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 38, pars. 8—4, 33A—2, 12—4). Defendant received concurrent terms of imprisonment of 15 years on the attempted murder and armed violence convictions. On appeal, defendant argues: (1) the trial court erred in refusing to instruct the jury on the justified use of force; and (2) the trial court erred in preventing him from arguing that evidence that one of the victims once had a gun in his truck tended to show that the victim had a gun in his truck…