People v. Lane
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June agreed to watch her sister Jwonda’s children so that Jwonda could visit her friend, Natasha Johnson. Jwonda’s boyfriend, Lane, drove her and her children to June’s apartment, but they argued. Jwonda did not meet Johnson as planned. When Johnson called Jwonda, she heard Lane yelling at her. Johnson went to June’s apartment and left about an hour later. She notified the police about the domestic disturbance. Officers went to June’s apartment. Jwonda and Lane started to leave by the back door. A gun in Lane’s hand discharged, killing Jwonda. Jwonda was pregnant. Her fetus died with her.
Lane testified that the gun discharged accidentally. June and Johnson testified that Lane had the gun in his hand as he yelled at Jwonda that she must not leave with Johnson and that Lane threatened to kill Jwonda. The court found Lane guilty of first-degree murder and intentional homicide of an unborn child and held that 720 ILCS 5-8-1(a)(1)(c)(ii) mandated a sentence of natural life in prison because Lane had murdered more than one victim. The appellate court affirmed.
The Illinois Supreme Court vacated the sentence. Section 5-8-1(a)(1)(c)(ii) does not apply because the trial court found Lane guilty of only one murder. The sentencing provisions do not change the classification of the offense with which a defendant has been charged and convicted. Intentional homicide of an unborn child is not murder. It is a separate offense with a separate definition.
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