People v. Whitt

Defendant, Patrick E. Whitt, was charged in an amended information with three counts of murder (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 38, pars. 9 — 1(a)(1), 9 — 1(a)(2), and 9 — 1(a)(3)) in causing the death of David M. Garrelts by striking him about the head and face with a baseball bat. Following a jury trial,' defendant was found guilty in a general verdict of murder and was subsequently sentenced to a 25-year term of imprisonment.

Four issues are raised on appeal: (1) whether the trial court erred when it refused to instruct the jury on involuntary manslaughter; (2) whether count III of the amended…