People v. Harris

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE SIMON

delivered the opinion of the court:

The appellant, Leon Pete Harris, and co-defendant, Ben Dorsey, were found guilty by a jury of the murder of Rogers Walton, a taxicab driver. Harris appeals from his conviction and sentence of 14 years to 14 years and 1 day contending: (i) that he was denied his right to a speedy trial; (ii) that the jury was improperly prevented from hearing a statement made by the deceased shortly prior to his death which the defendant contends detracted from the credibility of the State’s key witness; (iii) that prejudicial prosecutorial comments…