People v. Denny

After a bench trial, defendant, Wesley C. Denny, was convicted of battery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 12 — 3) and placed under one year’s court supervision. On appeal, defendant argues that his conviction must be reversed because the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his actions were not justified as self-defense (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 7 — 1). We reverse and remand.

On Friday, July 14, 1989, at about 5:30 p.m., defendant visited his former wife, Gretchen Denny (Gretchen), at her home in Naperville. The two became embroiled in a heated argument over…