Felony murder is a complex legal issue that can be difficult to fully understand. That is where real-life examples come in to help us demonstrate how a felony murder case works. As criminal defense lawyers in Cook County, Glasgow & Olsson lawyers are here to break down the law and provide legal advice.
Tevin Louis
Tevin Louis was 19 years old in 2012 when he faced felony murder charges in connection with the death of his friend, Marquise Sampson. Prior to the shooting, Louis and Sampson had robbed a gyro shop. Although the police officer on the scene, Officer Dicarlo, claimed that Sampson had pulled out a gun, the body camera footage of the incident was unclear. Louis was subsequently convicted of first-degree murder and robbery, for which he received a 52-year prison sentence. Despite acknowledging his imperfections, Louis argued that he did not deserve such harsh punishment as he was not the one who killed his friend.
Gerald Berry
In 2001, Gerald Berry and his friends planned to burglarize a house in Country Club Hills, Illinois. However, upon arrival, they realized one of the homeowners was present, and they considered targeting other residences. Despite this, Berry’s older friend Loree Scott Young encouraged them to proceed with the robbery. Young and Trumaine McClure went inside the house while Berry and another lookout waited in the getaway car. Unfortunately, the situation quickly turned violent when another resident returned home and shot Young twice, causing McClure to return fire and hit the resident, resulting in the deaths of both Young and the resident.
McClure was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and the other lookout was acquitted. However, Berry was charged and convicted of both the murders of his friend Young and the resident of the home that was robbed under the felony murder rule.
These Cases are Both Examples of Felony Murder
In Illinois, felony murder occurs when a person commits a felony, and that felony offense results in the death of another person. Felonies include crimes that involve the use of force or threat of force against another person, such as robbery, burglary, or kidnapping. Both of these cases demonstrate felony murder charges in real-life scenarios. In these felonies, while the use of force may be a factor, it is not a requirement to be charged with anywhere from 20 years to life.
This is because the prosecution does not need to prove that the defendant intended to cause the death of the victim. Rather, the prosecution only needs to prove that death occurred during the commission of a felony offense and that the defendant had the intent to commit that felony. For example, in Barry’s case, he intended to rob the home, and death resulted; therefore, he was charged with felony murder. Even though he never touched a weapon and, in fact, did not even enter the home during the robbery.
Our Criminal Defense Attorneys Can Help.
If you need representation for any criminal charge, including felony murder, in Cook County, Glasgow & Olsson is uniquely qualified to help. When you need an attorney, experience matters. Contact us today to learn how our experience can get you the results you deserve.