People v. Sowewimo

PRESIDING JUSTICE COUSINS

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant Abiodun Sowewimo was convicted in a bench trial of two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated unlawful restraint, stalking, aggravated stalking, attempted first degree murder, and aggravated discharge of a weapon. On appeal, defendant alleges (1) he was denied his constitutional right to testify in his own behalf when the court and his trial lawyer pressured him to forego his testimony; (2) the offense of aggravated discharge of a firearm is a lesser included offense of attempted murder resulting from the…