People v. Groves

PRESIDING JUSTICE COUSINS

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant Kareem Groves was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. The trial court sentenced defendant to 60 years’ imprisonment for the murder conviction, to run concurrently with 7 years’ imprisonment for possession of a motor vehicle. On appeal, defendant contends that: (1) he was denied effective assistance of counsel; (2) the prosecutor improperly shifted the burden of proof during closing arguments; and (3) he was denied a fair trial where a judge other than the trial judge…