People v. Lewis

The defendant, Bernard Lewis, was indicted for the offenses of attempt murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 8 — 4, 9 — 1) and aggravated battery. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 38, par. 12 — 4(b)(1).) A jury found him guilty and he was sentenced from 6 to 18 years in the penitentiary. He appeals this conviction, contending that the trial court erred in excluding proffered testimony and that the prosecutor’s misconduct deprived him of a fair trial.

Melvin Hicks, 18 years old, was shot in the back by Lewis and permanently paralyzed. He testified that on January 16, 1973, he was visiting his…