Criminal law — distinguishing a murder charge

Posted June 2, 2014 3:04 PM

Where a defendant is tried for first-degree murder, and he raises a defense mitigating the charge, reducing the charge to second-degree murder is appropriate. The Illinois Appellate Court, 1st District, 2nd Division, affirmed in part and vacated in part a decision by Cook County Associate Judge Thomas Joseph Hennelly. On June 14, 2008, Brendan Scanlon and his roommate, James Cackovic, were attending a party at a Wicker Park art gallery. The two then went across the street to another party for a few hours. Upon …

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