People v. Pegram

Defendant appeals his conviction by a jury for armed robbery, his sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment, and a fine imposed of $20. He presents as issues on appeal whether: (1) the circuit court erred in failing to instruct the jury on the affirmative defense of compulsion; (2) the prosecutor’s questions on cross-examination and comments in closing argument concerning defendant’s post-arrest silence were plain error; (3) the circuit court erred in not permitting defendant to testify regarding his state of mind at the time of the crime; (4) the circuit court abused its discretion in permitting…