People v. Costillo

608 N.E.2d 100, 240 Ill. App. 3d 72, 181 Ill. Dec. 27, 1992 Ill. App. LEXIS 1990
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedDecember 8, 1992
Docket1-90-3496
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 608 N.E.2d 100 (People v. Costillo) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Costillo, 608 N.E.2d 100, 240 Ill. App. 3d 72, 181 Ill. Dec. 27, 1992 Ill. App. LEXIS 1990 (Ill. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

JUSTICE McCORMICK

delivered the opinion of the court:

Defendant was charged with first-degree murder. After a bench trial, defendant was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment. He appeals from the conviction and sentence imposed.

On appeal, defendant contends that (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress statements; (2) the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress his lineup identification; (3) the trial court erred in refusing to admit evidence of the victim’s aggressiveness; (4) the evidence is insufficient to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of murder; and (5) the sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment is excessive. We affirm the decision of the trial court.

On August 3, 1989, Corey Davis was shot and killed in Chicago, Illinois. On August 17, 1989, defendant was charged with the murder of Davis. Prior to trial, defendant moved to suppress statements he made to the police and his lineup identification. At the hearing on defendant’s motions, Detective Lawrence Tuider testified that he separately advised defendant of his Miranda rights and that defendant appeared to understand these rights. Detective Maslanka also testified that his partner, Detective John Paladino, advised defendant of his Miranda rights and that defendant understood them. After the detectives told defendant certain facts about the investigation and the allegations against him, defendant agreed to give a statement. The conversation lasted about 15 minutes. After making his statement, defendant told the detectives that he wanted to speak to his lawyer. The detectives ended the conversation at that time. Detective Maslanka further testified that one of the two people who viewed the lineup identified defendant.

Defendant testified at the motion to suppress hearing on his own behalf. He stated that he was never read his Miranda rights. The police officers at Area 3 wanted him to give them a “little story” regarding Davis’ death, but defendant told them he had nothing to say and that he wanted to see his lawyer. The officers told defendant that attorney Gary Adair had called, but that he should not worry about it. Defendant stated that he never waived his rights in writing and that no lawyer ever entered the room while the police questioning was in progress.

Both sides stipulated to attorney Adair’s testimony that he was hired to represent defendant, and that prior to defendant’s arrest, he advised defendant not to make any statements to the police. It was also stipulated that attorney Adair spoke to Sergeant Byrnes and Detective Tuider prior to defendant’s arrest and told them that he would surrender defendant and that he advised his client not to talk to the police. After defendant was arrested, attorney Adair spoke with Detectives Holmgren and Paladino. He told them that he was defendant’s attorney and that he advised defendant to remain silent. Attorney Adair informed the police that he wanted to be present for any lineup proceedings.

After enumerating detailed findings, the trial court denied defendant’s motion to suppress his statement and his motion to suppress the lineup identification.

At trial, Lawrence Smith, the State’s only occurrence witness, testified to the following facts: On August 3, 1989, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Smith, his uncle Joseph Gales and Davis left a store and were walking east on the south side of 51st Street. Smith observed defendant sitting with three other males and two females on a porch. Defendant asked them what gang they belonged to and told them that they were in the wrong territory. All of the persons on the porch, including defendant, gathered around Smith and his two companions. As Smith and his companions attempted to push their way through, one of the females passed a .22 automatic weapon to defendant. Defendant stated that they (Smith and his companions) were not going to go anywhere. Defendant shot Davis, who was approximately eight feet from him. Smith, Gales and Davis ran in different directions. Defendant chased Davis and continued shooting at him. Smith did not see what else happened to Davis because Smith and Gales ran in another direction. Gales fell and was beaten on the head by the two men who had chased him.

Smith ran until he reached his mother’s house. There, he called the police. Next, Smith went to Davis’ house to tell Davis’ mother that her son had been shot. Smith returned to the scene and led the police and medical personnel to Davis’ body.

On that same day, Smith went to the gang crimes office at 35th and Lowe and identified defendant from a book of mug shots of gang members. About two weeks later, Smith identified defendant in a lineup as the person who shot Davis.

On cross-examination, Smith testified that he had known Davis for about three years. He did not know whether or not Davis was a gang member. He stated that Davis was not an aggressive person and did not own or possess a gun at the time of his death.

Detective Paladino testified that on August 3, 1989, he and his partner received an assignment that a man was shot at 1323 West 51st Street. When they arrived on the scene, they went straight to the empty lot. They spotted five casings and observed a small amount of blood at the location where Davis’ body was found. Detective Paladino interviewed several people including Smith and Gales regarding the homicide. Smith and Gales accompanied the detective to Area 3, where Smith identified defendant from a gang book. Paladino obtained a warrant for defendant’s arrest.

Detective Paladino testified that at the time of defendant’s arrest, he read defendant his rights. Defendant indicated that he understood these rights. Defendant gave the police his account of what happened on August 3, 1989. Defendant told the police that he was standing at 1319 West 51st Street when Davis walked by with his hat cocked to the right. This showed disrespect to defendant because he was a Latin King. Defendant told Davis to straighten his hat out, but Davis said no. Davis then pulled out a .38 revolver and fired one shot at defendant. Elizabeth Santoyo, who was present, handed defendant a .22 automatic. As Davis ran away, defendant fired one shot at him. Davis allegedly fired two more shots at defendant, but defendant did not return any shots because his gun jammed. Defendant then chased Gales down the street, caught him and with the help of two others “beat the shit out of him.” After beating Gales, defendant ran back to the scene and threw the gun away.

On cross-examination, Detective Paladino testified that defendant’s statement was oral and given in narrative form. He was aware that defendant had a lawyer, but was not aware that defendant did not wish to make a statement. Defendant did not have any problem understanding what the detective asked him and responding.

Detective Paladino was questioned about the police report which indicated that two guns were involved in the incident. Paladino testified that the evidence showed that at least one gun was involved. Some people who heard the shots thought that they came from two different calibers of guns.

The parties entered into several stipulations. The first stipulation was that evidence technicians recovered five .22 caliber cartridge casings from the vacant lot. All of the casings came from the same gun.

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Bluebook (online)
608 N.E.2d 100, 240 Ill. App. 3d 72, 181 Ill. Dec. 27, 1992 Ill. App. LEXIS 1990, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-costillo-illappct-1992.