People v. Williams

Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant, Reginald Williams, was convicted of one count of armed robbery (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1981, ch. 38, par. 18-2) and sentenced to an eight-year term in the Illinois Department of Corrections. On appeal, defendant raises four issues. We find it necessary, however, to consider only the first of these; namely, whether the trial court's failure to give Illinois Pattern Jury Instruction (IPI), Criminal, No. 2.03 (2d ed. 1981) concerning the presumption of innocence and the State's burden of proof, denied defendant a fair trial. Our affirmative finding on this issue obviates any consideration of the subsequent claims of error raised by defendant.