People v. Hawkins

PRESIDING JUSTICE CERDA

delivered the opinion of the court:

Following a bench trial, defendant, Ronald Hawkins, was convicted of the first-degree murder (720 ILCS 9 — 1(a)(1) (West 1994)) of Ernest Green and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. On appeal, defendant asserts that (1) he was denied the right to present a defense; and (2) he was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. For the following reasons, we reduce the conviction to second-degree murder and remand for resentencing.

On August 15, 1995, defendant stabbed and killed the victim, Ernest Green. Defendant does not deny killing…