People v. Williams

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Cook County defendant Kenneth Williams was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 14 to 25 years imprisonment.

On appeal defendant contends that (1) certain testimony of State witnesses was improperly admitted into evidence; (2) statements made by the prosecutor during closing argument denied him a fair trial; and (3) he was not proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

On January 5, 1978, Sharon Palmore was found shot to death in the defendant’s apartment. Defendant admitted firing the fatal shot but claimed he did so in self-defense. There…