People v. Collins

              No. 2--06--0088 Filed: 4-9-08
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IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
SECOND DISTRICT
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THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
JAMAL L. COLLINS, a/k/a Jamel Collins,
Defendant-Appellant.
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Appeal from the Circuit Court
of Lake County.
No. 01--CF--2224
Honorable
John T. Phillips,
Judge, Presiding.
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JUSTICE GROMETER delivered the opinion of the court:
Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Lake County, defendant, Jamal L. Collins, a/k/a
Jamel Collins, was convicted of first-degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9--1(a)(1) (West 2000)) in
connection with the stabbing death of Jaime Hernandez. On direct appeal, defendant argued, inter
alia, that he was prejudiced when the jury foreman sua sponte visited the crime scene during
defendant's trial. A majority of this court agreed with this contention, reversed defendant's
conviction, and remanded the cause for a new trial. People v. Collins, 351 Ill. App. 3d 175 (2004).
Following a new trial by jury, defendant was convicted of second-degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9--2(a)
(West 2000)). In this appeal, defendant argues that his conviction must be reversed because he was
denied his statutory right to a speedy trial (725 ILCS 5/103--5 (West 2000)) on remand. We disagree
and therefore affirm.