Appellate Court of Illinois February 8, 1995, No. 1—92—0894 (People v. Ellis)

JUSTICE TULLY

delivered the opinion of the court:

After a bench trial, defendant, M.C. Ellis, was convicted of the first degree murder of James Terrell (hereinafter James) in violation of section 9 — 1(a)(1) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1(a)(1) (now 720 ILCS 5/9 — 1(a)(1) (West 1992))) and sentenced to a prison term of 30 years for that crime.