People v. Jefferson

Summary

The Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the appellate court's jurisdiction to review the trial court's order and held that the jury's negative answer to a firearm-enhancement special interrogatory did not preclude the State from retrying Jefferson under a principal-liability theory. Because the prior verdict could reflect jury uncertainty about who fired the fatal shot, Jefferson failed to establish that the issue was necessarily decided against him. The State may argue that either Jefferson or Brownlee fired the shot, but it may not seek the firearm sentencing enhancement again.