People v. Green

Defendant Larry Green was tried in absentia and convicted by a jury of armed robbery and sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. Defendant appeals from the conviction, contending: (1) that his conviction must be reversed since he was not admonished in person that he could be tried in absentia; (2) that the prosecutor’s comments on defendant’s absence during closing and rebuttal arguments were improper; and (3) that the State failed to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The evidence presented at trial revealed the following facts. Rawfik Yasin was the owner of a grocery store in…