Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Evidence
Defendant was convicted, after simultaneous but separate jury trials with co-Defendant, of first degree murder. Before admission of other crimes evidence may be considered, it must first be shown, as threshold requirement, that Defendant committed previous crime. Court's findings as to factors of other crimes admissibility were premature, and thus Defendant was improperly sent to trial with stigma overhead of previous crime which he did not commit. (LAVIN and STERBA, concurring.)