People v. Grimes

Following a June 2007 trial, a jury convicted defendant, Shaunessy Grimes, of first degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9 — 1(a)(2) (West 2006)). In August 2007, the trial court sentenced him to 35 years in prison.

Defendant appeals, arguing that (1) the trial court erred by denying his request to instruct the jury on (a) the lesser-included offense of involuntary manslaughter and (b) the issue of causation, and (2) the State failed to present sufficient evidence to prove that he was accountable for first degree murder. We disagree and affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

In October 2006, the State charged defendant…