People v. Washington

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
Supreme Court
People v. Washington, 2012 IL 110283
Caption in Supreme THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellant, v. MALVIN
Court: WASHINGTON, Appellee.
Docket No. 110283
Filed January 20, 2012
Held When evidence in a first degree murder trial supports a self-defense
(Note: This syllabus instruction on justifiable use of force, there must also be an instruction
constitutes no part of permitting the jury to reduce the offense to second degree murder if it
the opinion of the court finds defendant unreasonably believed that force was necessary.
but has been prepared
by the Reporter of
Decisions for the
convenience of the
reader.)
Decision Under Appeal from the Appellate Court for the First District; heard in that court
Review on appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Hon. Diane G.
Cannon, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Affirmed.
Counsel on Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, of Springfield, and Anita Alvarez,
Appeal State’s Attorney, of Chicago (Alan J. Spellberg, Annette Collins and
Ashley A. Romito, Assistant State’s Attorneys, of counsel), for the
People.
Tod M. Urban and Rachel Moran, of Chicago, for appellee.
Justices JUSTICE GARMAN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Chief Justice Kilbride and Justices Freeman, Thomas, Karmeier, Burke,
and Theis concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 Defendant, Malvin Washington, was convicted of two counts of first degree murder (720
ILCS 5/9-1(a)(1), (a)(2) (West 2002)) of Marquis Reed and one count of aggravated battery
with a firearm (720 ILCS 5/12-4.2 (West 2002)) of Ronald Lee. The circuit court of Cook
County merged the counts of first degree murder and sentenced defendant to a term of 55
years in prison on the murder conviction and a consecutive term of 10 years in prison on the
conviction for aggravated battery with a firearm. Following the close of evidence and
relevant to this appeal, the circuit court instructed the jury on the justifiable use of force in
self-defense (720 ILCS 5/7-1 (West 2002)). The court rejected defense counsel’s request to
also instruct the jury on second degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9-2(a)(2) (West 2002)) and
involuntary manslaughter (720 ILCS 5/9-3(a) (West 2002)). Defendant appealed and the
appellate court reversed and remanded for a new trial, holding that where the evidence
supports the giving of a self-defense instruction, it was an abuse of discretion for the trial
court to refuse a defendant’s request for a second degree murder instruction. 399 Ill. App. 3d
664. We granted the State leave to appeal. Ill. S. Ct. R. 315 (eff. Feb. 26, 2010).
¶2 BACKGROUND
¶3 On March 21, 2004, Antonio Washington was visiting his cousin, Topeka Washington,
who was defendant’s sister. Antonio was driving a car that belonged to Sharlene Parker,
defendant’s girlfriend. As Antonio backed out of his parking space, the car was struck by a
car driven by Antoine Lee. Both men got out of their cars. Phone calls were made to
members of both men’s families and soon several people converged on the accident scene.
Present were Antoine’s mother, Angela Lee; her sister, Yvette Reed; her brother, Donald
Lee; and Yvette’s son, Marquis Reed. Another group of Antoine’s family members arrived
separately, including Antoine’s uncle, Ronald Lee; LaTanya McGhee; LaTanya’s mother,
Wanda Cook; and Victor Lovelace, who was a friend of Ronald. Topeka called defendant’s
girlfriend to tell her of the accident. Defendant answered the phone and he went to the
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accident scene. Defendant and Antoine began to argue. At some point, defendant went to his
girlfriend’s car and retrieved a gun, as he did not want the police to find it. He put the gun
in the pocket of his green and black Milwaukee Bucks jacket. Ronald Lee walked up to the
two men. Antoine testified that Ronald told defendant to “get the f*** away from my
nephew.” Topeka joined in the argument. Antoine testified that he decided that he and
Ronald should leave because too many people had arrived. Ronald told Antoine, “F*** this
s***, let’s go.” According to Antoine, as they were walking away, he heard two or three
gunshots. He turned around and saw fire coming from defendant’s pocket.
¶4 Antonio Washington claimed that he was dazed after the accident. He claimed a lack of
memory concerning the salient events. However, in a statement to police and in his grand
jury testimony, Antonio stated that defendant arrived on the scene and demanded that
someone pay for the damage to his girlfriend’s car. Antonio also stated that the atmosphere
was calm, but that the situation escalated. At that point, Topeka “got crazy.” Antonio stated
that he heard several gunshots.
¶5 Ronald Lee testified that he and his family were driving in the area and happened to come
upon the accident. He got out of his car and approached defendant and Antoine. Defendant
was yelling and “fussing” at Antoine, who appeared frightened. When neither man responded
to Ronald’s question as to what was going on, Ronald told Antoine to get in his car, that they
would leave and call the police about the accident from home. Ronald testified that he
pushed Antoine and defendant apart to prevent them from fighting and he and Antoine
started to walk away. Ronald testified that Topeka followed them, yelling something about
people minding their own business. Ronald told her that this was his business because it
involved his nephew. As Ronald continued to walk to his car, he heard shouts of, “He’s got
a gun,” and Ronald turned around to see defendant pointing a gun at him. Ronald tried to run
away, but was shot three times. Ronald denied having a gun that day and he also denied
telling defendant to “get the f*** away from my nephew” when he first walked up to
defendant and Antoine.
¶6 Angela Lee testified that when she approached the scene of the accident, defendant and
Antoine appeared to be talking calmly. She saw Ronald walk up to them and ask what was
going on. Defendant asked Ronald in a normal tone of voice, “Who the f*** are you?”
Ronald stated that he was talking to his nephew, not to defendant. When Ronald and Antoine
started to leave, Angela saw defendant shoot a gun in their direction. She ducked and fell to
the ground. She did not see anyone other than defendant with a gun. Angela testified that
there was no physical confrontation between defendant and Ronald prior to the shooting.
¶7 Donald Lee testified that he saw Antoine arguing with a man who was pushing Antoine
with his body. Ronald walked up and stepped between Antoine and the man and pushed them
apart. Ronald became involved in the argument, which was “very heated.” Donald did not
see any weapon in Ronald’s hands. He saw the man pull a gun from his side. Donald ran
when he heard gunshots; he did not have a gun but would have used it if he had. Later,
Donald saw his sister, Yvette, sitting on the curb, holding her son Marquis, who was
bleeding.
¶8 Yvette Reed testified that she was at Angela’s home when Angela got a call from
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Antoine about a car accident. She, Angela, Donald, and Marquis left to go to the accident
scene. She stayed in the car, while the others got out to see what was happening. Yvette
heard gunshots. She got out of the car and saw Marquis coming toward her with blood on his
mouth.
¶9 LaTanya McGhee was with Ronald when he walked up to Antoine and defendant.
Defendant was yelling at Antoine. Ronald told Antoine to get in the car and call the police.
Defendant began to argue with Ronald. LaTanya denied seeing Ronald push or choke
defendant or hear him say, “Get the f*** away from my nephew.” A woman approached
Ronald and told him to mind his own business. Ronald told the woman that this was his
business. LaTanya saw defendant remove a gun from his pocket and shoot three times at
Ronald. Everyone was running and screaming.
¶ 10 Wanda Cook saw that a crowd had gathered at the accident scene and that people were
arguing. Ronald was arguing with a man in a black hoodie. The man pulled out a gun.
Ronald ran away and she heard three or four gunshots. Ronald fell to the ground at the door
of their car. Wanda stated that Ronald did not have a gun.
¶ 11 Forensics testing showed that all bullets and casings recovered from the scene were fired
from the same gun. The bullet that killed Marquis had passed through another object or
person before hitting Marquis.
¶ 12 Topeka testified for the defense that when defendant initially arrived on the scene he was
calm. Both he and Antoine went to their cars. When they came back, Ronald walked up.
Ronald was angry and things got out of hand. Ronald asked defendant if he was “F***ing”
with his nephew. Defendant stated that he was not. Ronald charged at defendant and pushed
him. Topeka asked Ronald why he was acting like that and Ronald told her to shut up or he
would slap her. Angela Lee grabbed Ronald to try to calm him down. Ronald broke free and
charged at defendant, trying to choke him. Topeka heard a gunshot. She ran and when she
looked back, she saw Donald Lee running just behind her with a gun that appeared to be
jammed. She did not know if Donald fired any shots. Topeka testified that she did not talk
to the police at any time in connection with the incident.
¶ 13 Finola Horad testified that she was at her neighbor’s house when she heard between three
and five gunshots. At first, she dropped to the floor but quickly got up and went to the door
because her daughters were walking home from the store. She saw a man standing in the
street with a gun in his hand. She could not see his face and could not tell his race or age. He
was wearing a black hoodie and jeans. A man was lying on the ground near him.
¶ 14 Defendant testified in his own behalf. After he retrieved his gun from the car, he started
to tell Topeka that he was going to put the gun in her house. Ronald came up behind him,
grabbed him by the neck and pushed him. According to defendant Ronald told him to get the
“f***” away from Antoine. Defendant told Ronald not to put his hands on him. Ronald
started shouting and cursing. According to defendant, Topeka tried to calm the situation and
Angela Lee was trying to hold Ronald back. However, Ronald broke loose and grabbed
defendant by the neck and they wrestled with each other. After defendant pushed Ronald
back, defendant saw Ronald reach for his waistband and pull out a gun. Defendant described
the gun as a revolver with a wooden handle. Defendant testified that he was afraid for his life
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and had no time to think. He reached for his gun and shot at Ronald. Ronald lunged at him
again and defendant shot him twice more. Defendant stated he heard more gunshots from
across the street and he started to run away. While doing so, defendant saw Donald Lee
chasing him with a gun. It appeared the gun had jammed. Defendant ran to a friend’s house.
He was arrested six months later.
¶ 15 At the jury instruction conference, defense counsel requested an instruction on self-
defense. The trial court denied counsel’s request for instructions on second degree murder
and involuntary manslaughter. The court determined that a question must exist as to whether
the defendant’s subjective belief in the need for the use of force is reasonable and that there
was no evidence in the instant case that defendant had an unreasonable belief. As stated, the
jury convicted defendant.
¶ 16 Defendant appealed, arguing, inter alia, that the trial court erred in refusing to give the
jury an instruction on second degree murder. The appellate court reversed and remanded for
a new trial, finding that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing the tendered
instruction.
¶ 17 ANALYSIS
¶ 18 I. Standard of Review
¶ 19 The question of whether sufficient evidence exists in the record to support the giving of
a jury instruction is a question of law subject to de novo review. People v. Everette, 141 Ill.
2d 147, 157 (1990).
¶ 20 II
¶ 21 The State argues that the appellate court erred in reversing defendant’s conviction and
remanding for a new trial. In finding trial court error for failure to give a second degree
murder instruction, the appellate court relied on this court’s decision in People v. Lockett,
82 Ill. 2d 546 (1980). Initially, we note that at the time Lockett was decided, what is now
second degree murder was called voluntary manslaughter. In 1986, the legislature enacted
Public Act 84-1450 (Pub. Act 84-1450 (eff. July 1, 1987) (amending section 9-2 of the
Criminal Code of 1961 (see Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, ¶ 9-2)). The Act renamed the offense
of murder to first degree murder. Compare Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, ¶ 9-1, with Ill. Rev.
Stat. 1987, ch. 38, ¶ 9-1. The Act also abolished the offense of voluntary manslaughter and
substituted for it the offense of second degree murder.
¶ 22 In Lockett, the defendant and his friends were driving in the defendant’s car when they
came upon the victim, an older man who was pulling a cart filled with glass bottles. The
defendant and his companions became involved in an argument with the victim concerning
his cart blocking one lane of the street. The victim approached the passenger side of the car
and pulled a smoking pipe out of his pocket. When the defendant and his friends began to
laugh, the victim pointed to his cart and said he had something in there to make them move.
He then started to pull a brown object out of the cart. Someone in the car yelled for the
defendant to watch out. The defendant reached for his gun and shot at the victim, believing
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the victim had a gun in his hand. When the police got to the scene, the victim was lying dead
in the street. No gun was found but an empty whiskey bottle was lying near the body. The
trial court gave the jury an instruction on self-defense, but refused a tendered instruction on
voluntary manslaughter. The jury convicted the defendant of murder. The appellate court
reversed the conviction and remanded for a new trial. Lockett, 82 Ill. 2d at 548.
¶ 23 This court affirmed the appellate court, rejecting the State’s argument that because the
defendant could have had a reasonable but mistaken belief in self-defense, he was not
entitled to an instruction on voluntary manslaughter based on an unreasonable belief in self-
defense. The court noted with approval several appellate court cases which held that if the
evidence supports a self-defense instruction, it will also support a voluntary manslaughter
instruction. This court observed that when a jury is given an instruction on self-defense, the
jury can conclude one of three things: (1) the defendant did not have a subjective belief that
use of force was necessary; (2) the defendant had a subjective belief that use of force was
necessary and that belief was reasonable; or (3) the defendant had a subjective belief that use
of force was necessary and that belief was unreasonable. Therefore, self-defense and
voluntary manslaughter instructions should be given when the evidence shows that the
defendant had a subjective belief that use of force was necessary. This court noted that it is
for the jury to determine whether that subjective belief was reasonable:
“It is not the province of the judge to weigh the evidence and decide if
defendant’s subjective belief was reasonable or unreasonable. The judge’s duty is to
determine if any evidence is presented that the defendant had a subjective belief. We
can conceive of no circumstance when a judge could determine, as a matter of law,
that a jury could find the defendant had a reasonable subjective belief the killing was
justified, but that the jury could not find the defendant’s subjective belief was
unreasonable. So long as some evidence is presented from which a jury could
conclude that defendant had a subjective belief, the jury should determine if the
belief existed and, if so, whether that belief was reasonable or unreasonable.
Consequently, we hold that when the evidence supports submitting an instruction on
justifiable use of force, a tendered [instruction] on voluntary manslaughter also
should be given.” Id. at 553.
¶ 24 The court noted the record in Lockett supported the trial judge’s determination that the
jury could have found that the defendant had a subjective belief in the need for the use of
force. Thus, a voluntary manslaughter instruction on unreasonable belief in the use of force
should have been given, along with the self-defense instruction. Id.
¶ 25 The State argues that Lockett did not announce a rule that a second degree murder
instruction must be given as a mandatory counterpart to a self-defense instruction in all
murder cases. In fact, the State argues, this was not even the issue before this court in
Lockett. Rather, the State argued there that because the defendant’s defense theory was that
he acted on a reasonable belief in self-defense, he was therefore not entitled to an instruction
on voluntary manslaughter based on an unreasonable belief. This court rejected that
argument, stating that a defense based upon self-defense does not preclude a voluntary
manslaughter instruction in a murder prosecution. The court went on to say that it is the
settled rule in murder cases that if there is evidence in the record which, if believed by a jury,
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would reduce the offense to manslaughter, an instruction defining manslaughter should be
given. Further, the court continued, it is equally well settled that such an instruction should
not be given if the evidence clearly shows that the crime was murder and there is no evidence
from which a jury might conclude that the defendant was guilty of manslaughter, rather than
murder. Id. at 550-51.
¶ 26 The State emphasizes this last passage in Lockett in arguing that Lockett did not mandate
the giving of a second degree murder instruction whenever a self-defense instruction is given
because the Lockett court recognized that jury instructions must be supported by some
evidence in the record. The State views it as inconsistent for this court to cite such a well-
settled proposition of law, but then establish a mandatory rule that a second degree murder
instruction must be given in all cases in conjunction with a self-defense instruction regardless
of whether the evidence supports the second degree murder instruction. The State argues that,
given the language and background of Lockett and the “tenor” of the law at that time, it is
likely that Lockett was meant, at least in part, to convey a clear message to the circuit courts
that they should not hesitate to tender jury instructions that are supported by the evidence
even if the instructions are inconsistent with the defendant’s own testimony or the primary
theory of the defense. Thus, according to the State, rather than announcing a mandatory rule,
Lockett merely reiterated that where the record provides some evidence that could mitigate
a crime from first degree murder to second degree murder, a second degree murder
instruction should be given regardless of whether the defendant chose an alternative theory
of defense.
¶ 27 The State further argues that Lockett itself noted that the reason the trial court in that case
refused the voluntary manslaughter instruction was not because the record lacked evidence
to support the instruction, but because the trial court concluded that self-defense is seldom
compatible with voluntary manslaughter. The trial court also made certain comments which
suggested a lack of belief in the defendant’s testimony that he thought the victim was pulling
a gun when he shot him. Thus, the State argues, the trial court actually identified evidence
in the record to support the unreasonableness of the defendant’s belief, but still refused to
give the instruction. The State also points to “permissive” language in Lockett, i.e., that “a
self-defense and a voluntary manslaughter instruction should be given when any evidence
is presented showing the defendant’s subjective belief that use of force was necessary.”
(Emphasis added.) Id. at 552. Significantly absent, argues the State, is any wording
describing an unequivocal command such as the words “requirement,” “mandatory,” or
“must” would convey.
¶ 28 Defendant, on the other hand, argues that Lockett did establish a mandatory rule and that
all but a few cases since then have followed that rule. Defendant argues that Lockett neither
used language of limitation nor gave any indication that it was announcing anything other
than a broadly applicable per se rule. He emphasizes language in Lockett in which this court
stated that it could “conceive of no circumstance when a judge could determine, as a matter
of law, that a jury could find the defendant had a reasonable subjective belief the killing was
justified, but that the jury could not find the defendant’s subjective belief was unreasonable.”
Id. at 553.
¶ 29 Reading Lockett as a whole convinces us that this court intended to set forth a mandatory
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requirement. This court stated in Lockett that “we hold that when the evidence supports
submitting an instruction on justifiable use of force, a tendered IPI Criminal No. 7.05 on
voluntary manslaughter also should be given.” (Emphasis added.) Id. at 553. This holding
came immediately after the court stated that it was not the province of the judge to weigh the
evidence and decide whether the defendant’s belief was reasonable or unreasonable, and that
the court could conceive of no circumstance when a judge could determine as a matter of law
that a jury could find a defendant’s subjective belief was reasonable but not find that the
belief was unreasonable. Id. at 553.
¶ 30 Further, Lockett is not the only case from this court to hold that a second degree murder
instruction should be given when the evidence supports the giving of a self-defense
instruction. Two years after Lockett, this court decided People v. O’Neal, 104 Ill. 2d 399
(1984). There, the defendant was charged with murder, rape, and other offenses. It was
alleged that he and the murder victim, Hendricks, kidnapped a woman and sexually assaulted
her in her car. The woman testified that after the defendant finished assaulting her, Hendricks
removed his jacket and got on top of her. The woman further testified that the defendant then
shot Hendricks in the head. In contrast, the defendant testified that while Hendricks was on
top of the woman, the defendant reached for the gun in Hendricks’ jacket pocket. Hendricks
then grabbed the defendant and tried to pull him into the backseat of the car. The defendant
testified that he shot Hendricks in self-defense. The defendant stated that he was afraid of
Hendricks due to Hendricks forcing the defendant to commit criminal offenses and making
threats against the defendant and his family. The trial court gave the jury an instruction on
self-defense, but refused to give an instruction on voluntary manslaughter based on
unreasonable belief in the need to use deadly force. The issue before this court was whether
the trial court erred when it refused to instruct the jury on voluntary manslaughter. This court
noted that Lockett “held that where there is evidence in the record to support a self-defense
instruction, a voluntary-manslaughter instruction must also be given if tendered by
defendant.” Id. at 405. The O’Neal court concluded, after reviewing the record, that it agreed
with the trial court that there was sufficient evidence to submit a self-defense instruction to
the jury. Consequently, the court stated, the tendered instructions on voluntary manslaughter
should have also been given. The court further held that the error was not harmless, noting
that the finding by the trial court of sufficient evidence in the record of the defendant’s
subjective belief in the necessity for the use of force to warrant a self-defense instruction
foreclosed any finding that the evidence of murder was overwhelming. Consequently, the
refusal to give the voluntary manslaughter instruction was not harmless error. Id. at 406, 409.
¶ 31 More recently, People v. Jeffries, 164 Ill. 2d 104 (1995), addressed issues surrounding
the constitutionality of the second degree murder statute. In that consolidated case, the
defendants, Jeffries and Newburn, were convicted of first degree murder. Jeffries was
accused of the stabbing death of his former girlfriend. The victim’s aunt, who witnessed the
stabbing, testified that Jeffries broke into the victim’s residence and began repeatedly
stabbing the victim with a knife. When the victim ran outside and began screaming for help,
Jeffries followed her and continued stabbing her. Jeffries testified that he stabbed the victim
in self-defense and that two weeks earlier, the victim had shot him in the arm. When he went
to the victim’s home to retrieve his belongings, she brandished a knife at him and threatened
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to kill him. They struggled over the knife and when Jeffries gained control of the knife, he
repeatedly stabbed the victim. Id. at 108.
¶ 32 In Newburn’s case, he and the victim engaged in two fist fights. The victim then left his
apartment and went across the street to the liquor store. The victim’s roommate testified that
she looked out the window and saw Newburn, accompanied by another man, approaching
the apartment with a baseball bat. They chased the victim out of the liquor store and
Newburn struck the victim in the leg with the bat. The victim ran toward the apartment
building. Newburn continued his pursuit of the victim and struck him again in the arm and
leg. He then bludgeoned the victim in the head with the bat three times and ran away. The
roommate and another witness testified that no gun was involved in any of the confrontations
between the victim and Newburn. However, Newburn testified that the victim had a gun
during the final confrontation prior to the fatal incident. Newburn testified that the victim
began to chase him with the gun. After evading the victim, Newburn got a baseball bat and
walked to the liquor store. When the victim emerged from the store, Newburn swung the bat
at him and struck him in the arm. The victim then pulled his gun and Newburn, in trying to
knock the gun out of the victim’s hand, struck him in the head. When the victim dropped the
gun, the roommate picked it up and Newburn fled the scene. We note the trial court gave a
second degree murder instruction in Newburn’s case. Id. at 109-10.
¶ 33 Pertinent to the instant case, the defendants in Jeffries argued that under the second
degree murder statute, the accused is required to prove that he had an unreasonable belief in
self-defense, which puts the accused in the untenable position of arguing that he had a
reasonable belief in self-defense to obtain an acquittal and, at the same time, arguing that his
belief was unreasonable to obtain a second degree murder conviction. This court noted that
the defendants, in essence, were arguing that the “but his belief is unreasonable” language
in the second degree murder statute is a part of the requisite mitigation and that the accused
bears the burden of proving it. This court rejected that argument as a misconception of what
actually happens at a murder trial. Using the example of Newburn’s trial, the court noted that
the jury first evaluated all the evidence and concluded that Newburn had killed the victim
without lawful justification. The jury then reevaluated the evidence to determine whether,
although legally unjustified, Newburn was acting with the unreasonable belief that the
circumstances justified his use of deadly force. The jury found that Newburn had not proven
the mitigating factor of imperfect self-defense. Based upon this example, this court
concluded that a defendant is not required to argue that his belief was unreasonable. Even
if the jury found Newburn’s belief was not objectively reasonable, he attempted to prove that
he had an actual belief in the necessity of self-defense by presenting evidence that he had
such a belief and that the belief was reasonable. Id. at 124-26.
¶ 34 Finally, Jeffries clarified the burdens of proof under first degree murder and second
degree murder. The court noted that once an affirmative defense has been raised, the State
has the burden of proving the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt as to that issue as
well as the elements of first degree murder. After the State establishes the elements of first
degree murder, the trier of fact next addresses the issue of lawful justification. In connection
with discussing the instruction of the jury on self-defense, this court cited Lockett in a
footnote. The footnote cited Lockett’s holding that self-defense and second degree murder
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instructions should be given when any evidence is presented showing the defendant’s
subjective belief that the use of force was necessary. Id. at 127.
¶ 35 Jeffries noted that to obtain a jury instruction on self-defense, a defendant must establish
some evidence of six factors: (1) force is threatened against a person, (2) the person is not
the aggressor, (3) the danger of harm was imminent, (4) the threatened force was unlawful,
(5) the person actually and subjectively believed a danger existed that required the use of the
force applied, and (6) the person’s beliefs were objectively reasonable. This court observed
that a defendant’s belief was not necessarily an element that the State was required to
disprove in defeating a claim of self-defense. Rather, the question of the reasonableness of
a defendant’s belief is merely one of six factors that the State could choose to rebut. In
summarizing, this court stated the following:
“[W]hen a defendant is found guilty of second degree murder, the trier of fact has,
in essence, concluded that the evidence that the defendant has offered was not
sufficient to support his claim of self-defense. The defendant, however, has proven
by a preponderance of the evidence the existence of a mitigating factor sufficient to
reduce the offense of murder to second degree murder. The defendant is not
compelled to show that he had an unreasonable belief in the necessity for the use of
force to obtain a second degree murder conviction. Rather, after the defendant has
presented the best evidence for his defense, the trier of fact has concluded that the
evidence only supports a finding of second degree murder and not absolute
justification for the defendant’s actions.” Id. at 129.
¶ 36 The State argues that Jeffries is of little applicability here because the primary issue in
that case was the constitutionality of the second degree murder statute and that one of the
defendants there, Newburn, did receive a second degree murder instruction. While the State
is factually correct in its statements, we disagree with its conclusion. The Jeffries defendants
argued that they were required by the second degree murder statute to prove an unreasonable
belief in the need to use force in self-defense. This court rejected that argument. The State
argues here that there must be some evidence in the record of an unreasonable belief in self-
defense to warrant a jury instruction on second degree murder, or that at the very least, the
reasonableness of the defendant’s subjective belief must be actively in question. Jeffries
suggests otherwise. A defendant who claims self-defense puts forth his best evidence on that
affirmative defense. As this court stated in Lockett, it is the trial court’s function to determine
whether there is evidence in the record of a subjective belief in the need to use force in self-
defense. If so, the trial court should instruct the jury on self-defense and on second degree
murder. This is so because, as noted by this court in Lockett, it is the function of the jury to
determine whether the subjective belief existed and whether it was objectively reasonable
or unreasonable. In addition, Jeffries cited Lockett in a footnote as it was discussing the
instruction of a jury on the issue of self-defense and the parties’ respective burdens of proof
on the issues of lawful justification. Id. at 127-28.
¶ 37 We find Jeffries relevant to the question of whether a second degree murder instruction
must be given when the evidence supports the giving of an instruction on the justifiable use
of force. It is noteworthy that Jeffries found it unnecessary for a defendant who asserts self-
defense to also produce evidence that his subjective belief in the need for the use of force
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was unreasonable in order to obtain a jury instruction on second degree murder. It is enough,
said Jeffries, to produce evidence of an actual belief in the need for the use of force in self-
defense. From that evidence, if the jury finds the defendant had a subjective belief, it may
find the belief to be objectively reasonable or objectively unreasonable. Consequently, we
conclude that Jeffries supports the holding of Lockett that if there is evidence in the record
to support the giving of an instruction on self-defense, that same evidence will also support
the giving of a second degree murder instruction and such an instruction should be given.
¶ 38 In further support of its argument that Lockett did not intend to require a second degree
murder instruction as a mandatory counterpart to a self-defense instruction, the State claims
that the appellate court cases cited with approval by Lockett were based upon factual
situations in which there was testimony that the defendants thought their victims were armed
with deadly weapons. The State argues that it was in this vein that Lockett explained that it
was for the trial court to determine whether there was any evidence in the record to support
a belief in self-defense but for the jury to determine whether that belief was reasonable.
¶ 39 Lockett cited three cases. The first case cited was People v. Wright, 24 Ill. App. 3d 536
(1974). There, the decedent and the defendant had an altercation stemming from vehicles
blocking the street. During the altercation, the defendant shot the decedent. Several witnesses
testified, with varying accounts of what transpired. Some testified that the decedent was the
aggressor and others that the defendant was the aggressor. The trial court gave the jury an
instruction on self-defense. On appeal from his murder conviction, the defendant argued,
inter alia, that the trial court erred in giving certain jury instructions and in failing to give an
instruction on the unreasonable belief in use of force in self-defense. The appellate court
found that the trial court had given contradictory instructions on self-defense and murder.
The court also concluded that because the trial court gave an instruction on self-defense, it
should also have given a voluntary manslaughter instruction on an unreasonable belief in the
justifiable use of force. In doing so, the appellate court noted that when the evidence supports
the giving of an instruction on the justifiable use of force, the jury has three alternatives to
consider, i.e., murder, self-defense, and unreasonable belief in the need for the use of force.
Id. at 541-42.
¶ 40 The second case relied on by the Lockett court is People v. Zertuche, 5 Ill. App. 3d 303
(1972). There, the defendant was charged with the murder of his former roommate. He
admitted that he shot the victim, but claimed self-defense. The defendant testified that the
roommate owed him money and when the defendant approached him about payment, the
victim refused and called him names. The defendant and the victim had two additional
confrontations during which the victim again verbally attacked the defendant. On each of
these occasions, the defendant became frightened and left. After the defendant left the scene
of the final incident, he heard the door slam behind him. When he turned around, he saw the
victim coming toward him as if to tackle him. Defendant pulled out a gun he had been
carrying for protection from the victim and shot him. The defendant also testified that it was
the victim’s habit to carry a gun and that he was taller, heavier, and younger than the
defendant. There were no eyewitnesses to the shooting. The trial court instructed the jury on
self-defense but refused to give a voluntary manslaughter instruction on unreasonable belief.
The appellate court reversed and remanded for a new trial. The court noted it seemed
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inconsistent of the trial court to find the existence of evidence from which the jury could
conclude that the defendant had a reasonable belief in the need to use deadly force in self-
defense, and at the same time find there to be no evidence showing that the defendant had
an unreasonable belief in the need for the use of force. The court thus held that since the self-
defense instruction had been given, the voluntary manslaughter instruction should also have
been given. Id. at 306.
¶ 41 The third case cited by Lockett was People v. Johnson, 1 Ill. App. 3d 433 (1971), in
which the victim was sleeping on a couch. The defendant walked into the room and ordered
the victim to get up and leave. The sole eyewitness testified that the victim stood up and
three shots were fired. The defendant left the house, but returned when police arrived and
surrendered his weapon. The defendant testified that when he awakened the victim, he
jumped up with a funny look in his eyes. The defendant knew the victim carried a knife and
he was afraid of the victim because the victim had previously broken a woman’s leg with an
iron pipe. According to the defendant, the victim advanced toward him and threatened to beat
the defendant. The defendant then fired his gun when he was unable to run away. The trial
court gave the jury an instruction on the use of force in self-defense; however, the court
refused to give a voluntary manslaughter instruction. The appellate court reversed and
remanded, noting that when the trial court determined that the evidence justified the giving
of an instruction on self-defense, there are three alternatives for the jury’s consideration, i.e.,
murder, the use of force was justified, or that while the defendant may have believed that the
use of force was necessary, that belief was unreasonable. It was for the jury to make a choice
among the several offenses disclosed by the evidence. Id. at 435.
¶ 42 The State attempts to distinguish these cases from the instant case by noting that in
Wright, Zertuche, and Johnson, the defendants only thought that their victims were armed
with deadly weapons. Here, in contrast, defendant testified that he saw Ronald pull a revolver
out of his pocket. We fail to see the distinction. The defendants in the three cases cited by
Lockett believed their victims were armed with a deadly weapon. Defendant here testified
that he saw Ronald pull a gun. Since no weapon was found, the trier of fact in this case, if
instructed properly, could determine from the evidence that defendant was mistaken and that
his belief in the need for self-defense was unreasonable. As Lockett noted, this was a
question for the jury to resolve, not the trial court.
¶ 43 The State argues that giving Lockett a mandatory interpretation is contrary to the basic
principle of law that whether a defendant is entitled to a jury instruction on an affirmative
defense depends upon whether there is any evidence in the record to support that defense. We
agree that it is well settled that a defendant is only entitled to a jury instruction on an
affirmative defense if there is some evidence, however slight, in the record to support that
defense. See People v. Jones, 175 Ill. 2d 126, 131-32 (1997). However, when the trial court
gives an instruction on the justifiable use of force, the court has determined that the record
contains evidence of the defendant’s subjective belief that the use of force was necessary to
defend himself. As Lockett noted, it is not the trial judge’s role to weigh the evidence and
decide whether that belief was reasonable or unreasonable. Lockett, 82 Ill. 2d at 553. The
State’s argument assumes that there will be instances in which, as a matter of law, the
defendant could not have had an unreasonable belief in the need to use force in self-defense.
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In such a case, the State reasons, a second degree murder instruction would not be supported
by the evidence and should not be given. The State argues that Lockett did not address the
situation presented in the instant case where the only question is whether the factual scenario
that the defendant alleges occurred actually took place. The State cites two appellate court
cases in support, People v. Anderson, 266 Ill. App. 3d 947 (1994), and People v. Billups, 404
Ill. App. 3d 1 (2010).
¶ 44 Anderson interpreted Lockett as holding only that a second degree murder instruction
must be given when there is a question as to the reasonableness of a defendant’s subjective
belief. In Anderson, the defendant testified that the victim threatened him, pointed a gun at
him, and the gun went off during the ensuing struggle. Other witnesses testified there was
no physical altercation and that the defendant walked up to the victim and shot him. Thus,
according to the appellate court, there was no question concerning whether the defendant’s
subjective belief in the use of force was unreasonable. Anderson, 266 Ill. App. 3d at 951.
¶ 45 A similar situation existed in Billups, where the defendant claimed that the victim was
attempting to rob him when he shot the victim in self-defense. A third man present during
the incident testified that the defendant said he had the gun all along. This man testified that
the defendant shot the victim within seconds of exiting a van in which the three men were
riding. Under these circumstances, the appellate court found the defendant’s claim to be one
of “perfect self-defense,” i.e., if the jury believed the defendant’s version of the facts, they
must find the defendant not guilty by reason of self-defense. In such circumstances, the court
concluded, there is no issue concerning the reasonableness of the defendant’s belief in the
need to use force to defend himself. Thus, the appellate court found there was no evidence
supporting the giving of a second degree murder instruction in Billups, 404 Ill. App. 3d at
9-10. The Billups court declined to read Lockett as changing well-settled law that the trial
court’s exercise of discretion as to the instructions to give the jury depends upon that court’s
assessment of whether some evidence exists in the record that, if believed by the jury, would
permit a conviction for second degree murder. Id. at 11.
¶ 46 The appellate court in the instant case found the holding in Anderson to be an aberration
and disagreed with that case’s conclusion that Lockett should be limited to situations where
a defendant’s subjective belief is actively in question. The court further held that the trial
court’s error in this case was not harmless because the record contains evidence that
defendant acted in either self-defense or with an unreasonable belief in the need for the use
of lethal force. 399 Ill. App. 3d at 680-81.
¶ 47 The Anderson court misrepresented the holding of Lockett when it said:
“Rather, Lockett held that self-defense and voluntary manslaughter instructions
should be given when any evidence is presented showing the defendant’s subjective
belief that deadly use of force was necessary. A question must exist, however, as to
whether that subjective belief is reasonable, resulting in a verdict of not guilty, or
unreasonable, resulting in a verdict of voluntary manslaughter.” (Emphasis added.)
Anderson, 266 Ill. App. 3d at 950-51.
¶ 48 Lockett did not hold or even imply that a question must exist as to whether the
defendant’s subjective belief was reasonable or unreasonable. Instead, Lockett held that this
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was a question for the fact finder to determine. The Anderson court tried to link Lockett’s
holding to the facts of that case and found that in Lockett the defendant’s subjective belief
was clearly in question. The language of Lockett, however, does not lend itself to this
interpretation. Nowhere in its opinion did this court condition its holding on the facts of the
case before it. As Lockett, O’Neal, and Jeffries made clear, it is the existence of the
defendant’s subjective belief that the evidence must show. It is for the jury to weigh the
evidence and determine whether that subjective belief existed and whether it was objectively
reasonable or unreasonable.
¶ 49 The principles expressed in Lockett have been applied by our appellate court in the three
decades since Lockett was decided. For example, in People v. Russell, 215 Ill. App. 3d 8
(1991), the appellate court applied Lockett in a situation where the trial court had given the
jury an instruction on second degree murder but refused to instruct the jury on self-defense.
There, the defendant was convicted of second degree murder. He believed the victim, his
half-brother, had stolen some of his guns. The victim was involved with a group of people
whom the defendant considered to be dangerous. After his guns were stolen, the defendant
began wearing a bulletproof vest. He was wearing the vest and carrying a gun when he
confronted the victim and his friends about the stolen guns. The defendant asked the group
to put their hands in the air because he believed they were armed. The defendant testified that
the victim started to turn to his right and the defendant saw a gun in his hand. The victim
swung the gun in the defendant’s direction and the defendant raised his rifle and fired, killing
the victim. Afterward, one of the men with the victim threw his gun under a car and took a
gun from the victim’s body and threw it under the car as well. Id. at 10-11.
¶ 50 The appellate court noted that this court held in Lockett that if the evidence supports a
self-defense instruction, it will also support a second degree murder instruction. The court
further noted that Lockett had been followed since then. Although Russell involved the
converse of the situation in Lockett, the Russell court found the reasoning of Lockett to still
be applicable. In fact, the court noted that the State in Russell did not seriously contest the
basic proposition that the jury should be instructed both as to self-defense and second degree
murder if evidence is produced that would establish a subjective belief in the use of force in
the defendant’s mind. Rather, the trial court had refused to give the jury instruction on self-
defense because it believed the defendant to be the initial aggressor. The appellate court
found that the evidence would support a finding either way on that issue. Thus, the
instruction should have been given. Id. at 11-13.
¶ 51 People v. Edmondson, 328 Ill. App. 3d 661 (2002), involved a gang shooting. The
defendant was convicted of first degree murder for killing two gang members. The defendant
gave conflicting versions of events in a written confession and in his trial testimony. At trial,
he claimed he acted out of self-defense, detailing a months-long campaign of harassment and
intimidation against him by members of the gang. In his confession to police, he stated that
he and another man donned dark clothing and ski masks and went to a certain street corner
with the intent of shooting members of the gang. Once there, the defendant and his
companion started shooting at the gang members. The defendant’s confession stated that he
did not see any weapons in the gang members’ hands. At the trial, the defendant testified that
he learned that the gang members were hanging out at a street corner. He and his companion
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decided to meet them to discuss the situation and try to reach an agreement. As they reached
the street corner, members of the gang rushed at them and the defendant heard gunshots. He
turned around and saw one of the gang members exiting a car with a gun. The defendant
testified that he fired his gun in self-defense. The trial court instructed the jury on self-
defense; however, the court denied defense counsel’s tender of instructions on second degree
murder based on an unreasonable belief in self-defense. Id. at 663-64.
¶ 52 On appeal, the defendant argued that this court’s decision in Lockett required the giving
of a second degree murder instruction once the trial court determined that the evidence
supported the giving of a self-defense instruction. The appellate court agreed with the
defendant’s contention. The court noted the factors to be considered in determining whether
a second degree murder instruction is warranted and applied those factors in light of the
evidence. The court noted that when the evidence conflicts on the issue of who initiated the
violence, the trial court must instruct the jury on the defendant’s justifiable defenses
supported by the evidence. This is true even if inconsistencies exist in the defendant’s
testimony. Id. at 664-65.
¶ 53 The Edmondson court further observed:
“The trial judge recognized that there were competing theories factually at issue
in this case and found the defendant was entitled to an instruction on self-defense
because that instruction was supported by the evidence. The submission of the self-
defense instruction by the trial judge indicates his determination that the jury could
conclude defendant acted with the subjective belief his conduct was in self-defense.
There was sufficient evidence in the record to support that determination. However,
the refusal to instruct the jury on second degree murder prevented the jury from
determining whether defendant’s subjective belief that he was justified in self-
defense was a reasonable or unreasonable belief. We cannot reconcile the trial court’s
finding sufficient evidence to warrant a self-defense instruction, and thereby allowing
the jury to consider whether defendant’s subjective belief was reasonable, with the
trial court’s refusal to allow the jury to consider whether that belief was
unreasonable.” Id. at 665-66.
¶ 54 Citing Lockett, the Edmondson court noted that when the evidence supports giving the
jury an instruction on the justifiable use of force in self-defense, then an instruction for
second degree murder should likewise be given.
¶ 55 Other cases also have applied the principles of Lockett. See, e.g., People v. Luckett, 339
Ill. App. 3d 93, 105-06 (2003); People v. Toney, 337 Ill. App. 3d 122, 140-41 (2003).
¶ 56 We today reiterate Lockett’s holding that when the evidence supports the giving of a jury
instruction on self-defense, an instruction on second degree murder must be given as a
mandatory counterpart. A failure to do so deprives the jury of the ability to make a factual
determination as to whether the defendant had a subjective belief in the necessity for the use
of force in self-defense but that belief was unreasonable. Our holding applies only in cases,
such as Lockett and the instant case, where the trial court has determined that the giving of
an instruction on self-defense is warranted and the defendant requests the giving of a second
degree murder instruction.
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¶ 57 III
¶ 58 The State argues that any error in refusing to give a second degree murder instruction in
this case was harmless because the evidence of defendant’s guilt of first degree murder was
overwhelming. Defendant argues that the instructional error here is not amenable to
harmless-error analysis. The State counters that accepting defendant’s contention would
directly contradict this court’s previous holding that automatic reversal is mandated only for
those errors that have already been defined as structural errors by the United States Supreme
Court. See People v. Thompson, 238 Ill. 2d 598, 608-09 (2010).
¶ 59 We agree with the State that the failure by a trial court to instruct the jury on second
degree murder where the court has given an instruction on self-defense is not subject to
automatic reversal. Automatic reversal is only required where the error is deemed
“structural,” i.e., a systemic error that serves to erode the integrity of the judicial process and
undermine the fairness of a trial. People v. Glasper, 234 Ill. 2d 173, 197-98 (2009). The
category of structural errors is very limited. In Neder v. United States, 527 U.S. 1 (1999), the
Supreme Court considered whether a jury instruction that omitted an element of the offense
constituted structural error. The Court found that it did not, noting that such errors are those
that affect the framework within which a trial proceeds, rather than simply an error in the
trial process itself. Such errors, the Court stated, deprive defendants of basic protections
without which a criminal trial cannot reliably serve its function to determine guilt or
innocence. Errors that the Court has found to be structural include the complete denial of
counsel, trial before a biased judge, racial discrimination in the selection of a grand jury,
denial of the right of self-representation at trial, denial of a public trial, and defective
reasonable doubt instructions. Id. at 8-9.
¶ 60 In contrast, instructional errors are deemed harmless if it is demonstrated that the result
of the trial would not have been different had the jury been properly instructed. People v.
Pomykala, 203 Ill. 2d 198, 210 (2003). The State argues that a second degree murder
instruction would not have changed the jury’s verdict because defendant’s “fantastical tale
of self-defense” was (1) utterly implausible because his flight from the scene of the shooting
demonstrated blatant consciousness of guilt, (2) not supported by the physical evidence that
indicated only he possessed a gun, and (3) directly contradicted his own witnesses. The
State’s position appears to be that since the jury rejected defendant’s claim of self-defense,
it would not have believed that defendant had an unreasonable belief in the need for the use
of force in self-defense. While there was evidence that contradicted defendant’s claim of a
reasonable belief in self-defense, the evidence in this case was conflicting. Several witnesses
testified. All but one of the occurrence witnesses were members of defendant’s or Ronald
Lee’s family. Only one disinterested witness testified and she did not see the shooting. The
testimony was diametrically opposed as to what transpired prior to and after the shooting. It
is the jury’s function to weigh the evidence, assess the credibility of the witnesses, resolve
conflicts in the evidence, and draw reasonable inferences therefrom. People v. Williams, 193
Ill. 2d 306, 338 (2000). The trial court determined that there was sufficient evidence in the
record of a reasonable belief on defendant’s part to justify giving an instruction on self-
defense. Pursuant to Lockett and its progeny, it was a question of fact as to whether
defendant’s belief was reasonable or unreasonable. By refusing to give a second degree
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murder instruction, the trial court took the factual determination from the jury. Based on this
record, we cannot say that the result of the trial would not have been different had the jury
received a second degree murder instruction.
¶ 61 IV
¶ 62 Finally, defendant argues that the trial court erred in refusing to give a second degree
murder instruction based on serious provocation. See 720 ILCS 5/9-2(a)(1) (West 2002). The
State argues that defendant forfeited this argument because he did not raise it in the appellate
court. The State attaches to its reply brief pages of defendant’s appellate court brief in which
he details his arguments concerning the alleged trial court error in failing to instruct the jury
on second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and unlawful use of a weapon. The only
argument raised with respect to the second degree murder issue is defendant’s claim that the
trial court failed to instruct the jury on second degree murder–unreasonable belief. No
argument was raised regarding second degree murder–serious provocation. Further, the
appellate court opinion addressed defendant’s arguments concerning alleged jury instruction
error on second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and unlawful use of a weapon.
The court noted that defendant provided no argument or authority for his claim that the trial
court erred in refusing to give a jury instruction on unlawful use of a weapon. Thus, the court
found that argument forfeited. The court summarily disposed of defendant’s claim of error
in refusing to give an instruction on involuntary manslaughter. 399 Ill. App. 3d at 676. The
only issue regarding second degree murder that the appellate court addressed was the
unreasonable belief issue that is now before this court. Where the appellant in the appellate
court fails to raise an issue in that court, this court will not address it. City of Urbana v.
Andrew N.B., 211 Ill. 2d 456, 464 (2004). Although the appellate court briefs have not been
made a part of the record in this court, the foregoing discussion adequately establishes that
defendant did not raise the second degree murder–serious provocation issue before the
appellate court. Accordingly, we find that defendant has forfeited this issue and we decline
to address it.
¶ 63 CONCLUSION
¶ 64 For the reasons stated, we affirm the appellate court’s judgment reversing defendant’s
convictions and remanding for a new trial.
¶ 65 Affirmed.
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