{ "id": 3948572, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. APRIL GOODMAN, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Goodman", "decision_date": "2004-03-05", "docket_number": "No. 1-01-0532", "first_page": "278", "last_page": "292", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "347 Ill. App. 3d 278" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "312 Ill. App. 3d 620", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 411646 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "633" }, { "page": "633" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/312/0620-01" ] }, { "cite": "196 Ill. 2d 105", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 351267 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "129" }, { "page": "129" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/196/0105-01" ] }, { "cite": "205 Ill. 2d 52", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1302618 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "94" }, { "page": "94-95" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/205/0052-01" ] }, { "cite": "325 Ill. App. 3d 926", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 570828 ], "weight": 4, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "937" }, { "page": "937" }, { "page": "937" }, { "page": "937" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/325/0926-01" ] }, { "cite": "327 Ill. App. 3d 203", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 79517 ], "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "205", "parenthetical": "recognizing a trial court's discretion to question witnesses to clarify ambiguities and help elicit the truth" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/327/0203-01" ] }, { "cite": "158 Ill. App. 3d 860", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3578588 ], "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/158/0860-01" ] }, { "cite": "185 Ill. App. 3d 31", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2647135 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "37" }, { "page": "37" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/185/0031-01" ] }, { "cite": "322 Ill. App. 3d 177", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 126425 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "179" }, { "page": "179" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/322/0177-01" ] }, { "cite": "328 Ill. App. 3d 428", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2183315 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "431" }, { "page": "431" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/328/0428-01" ] }, { "cite": "151 Ill. App. 3d 264", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3539737 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "283" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/151/0264-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1158, "char_count": 32933, "ocr_confidence": 0.743, "pagerank": { "raw": 8.651413487076017e-08, "percentile": 0.4914722827469864 }, "sha256": "99159cf83fccaabdfb72fb8697d6745a9e165aec3506cd794db1042e171a2c6f", "simhash": "1:0fef1476766c2565", "word_count": 5306 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:28:47.759631+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "GALLAGHER and O\u2019BRIEN, JJ, concur." ], "parties": [ "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. APRIL GOODMAN, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE TULLY\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nFollowing a jury trial, defendant, April Goodman, was found guilty of solicitation of murder for hire (720 ILCS 5/8 \u2014 1.2 (West 1998)), sentenced to 30 years\u2019 incarceration, and fined $25,000. Defendant timely appeals contending: (1) the trial court abused its discretion when it instructed the jury with a nonpattern instruction; (2) this matter must be remanded for fitness hearings because the trial court failed to make sufficient rulings regarding defendant\u2019s fitness for trial and sentencing; (3) the trial court improperly admitted evidence of other crimes and the State made improper arguments regarding that evidence; (4) the trial court improperly admitted evidence of a telephone conversation without an adequate foundation; and (5) the State improperly commented on defendant\u2019s failure to testify. We affirm.\nBACKGROUND\nThe essential allegations of the State\u2019s case against defendant are relatively straightforward. On August 4, 1998, defendant met with an undercover police officer posing as a \u201chit man.\u201d Defendant and the hit man discussed killing her ex-husband, Albert Goodman, and agreed on a price of $5,000. On August 10, 1998, defendant met with the hit man again, gave him a $1,000 down payment, and asked him to kill Goodman. Both conversations were recorded electronically. Following the second encounter, the police arrested defendant and the State charged her with solicitation of murder for hire.\nDefendant filed a motion to suppress statements she made to the police after her arrest. On April 23, 1999, the trial court conducted a hearing on defendant\u2019s motion. At the hearing, a police officer, an assistant State\u2019s Attorney, and defendant testified. The trial court denied defendant\u2019s motion. At the conclusion of the hearing, defense counsel requested a \u201cBCX\u201d (behavioral clinical examination) to determine if defendant was fit to stand trial. The trial court ordered the examination and continued the matter.\nOn August 5, 1999, the trial court conducted a fitness hearing. The parties stipulated that Dr. Matthew Markos \u201cwould testify\u201d that based on his experience and training he is qualified as an expert in the field of psychiatry. The parties stipulated that Markos \u201cwould testify\u201d that he had reviewed defendant\u2019s medical records and conducted a clinical interview. The parties stipulated that Markos was of the opinion that defendant was fit to stand trial with medication. The parties stipulated that defendant had a history of a mental disorder, bipolar type, and was currently in remission with medication. The parties waived argument, and the trial court found that defendant was fit to stand trial without questioning defendant or hearing additional evidence.\nBefore trial, the State moved to allow the introduction of evidence that defendant had previously asked other individuals to kill Goodman. The State argued that this evidence was relevant to establish defendant\u2019s motive and intent. Defendant responded, arguing that the evidence was not relevant and, if relevant, the probative value of the evidence was outweighed by its prejudicial effect. On June 16, 2000, the trial court ruled that the evidence of other crimes was admissible.\nThe trial court commenced a jury trial on October 2, 2000. Albert Goodman testified that he met defendant through the Great Expectations dating service in January 1995. He and defendant were married in June 1995. Goodman testified that problems with the marriage developed almost immediately. Goodman filed for dissolution of the marriage in August 1995. The couple separated and attempted reconciliation several times. Goodman testified that, in June 1996, defendant attempted to push him down the stairs at a home they shared. Goodman struggled with defendant but testified that he never struck her or attempted to push her down the stairs. Goodman was later arrested in connection with the incident. He was ultimately found not guilty of all charges.\nGoodman further testified that, after the incident in June 1996, defendant informed him that she was pregnant. Goodman testified that defendant had a miscarriage as the result of a \u201ctubular pregnancy.\u201d Goodman testified that, to his knowledge, nothing he had done caused defendant to miscarry. The parties\u2019 marriage was ultimately dissolved in September 1997. On August 10, 1998, Goodman received a telephone call from defendant. Defendant told Goodman that she needed $10,000 for liposuction. Goodman testified that, as part of the divorce settlement, he was required to pay for defendant\u2019s medical and psychiatric needs. Goodman told defendant that he had already paid for liposuction and would not give her any additional money. Defendant responded, \u201cThat settles it then, you are evil,\u201d and hung up the telephone.\nNicholas Ellis testified that, in May or June of 1997, he met defendant in a bar in Oak Park. Ellis made a joke about knowing someone who could break kneecaps. Defendant seemed interested in the comment and asked Ellis if he was in the mafia. Defendant gave Ellis her telephone number and they later agreed to meet for dinner. The following weekend Ellis took defendant to dinner. During dinner, defendant asked several times about a favor she needed. Ellis asked about the favor, and defendant said she would tell him about it later. After dinner, the couple saw a movie. After the movie, Ellis asked about the favor again. Defendant\u2019s demeanor changed, and she told Ellis that she needed someone to kill her husband. Ellis told defendant that she had the wrong idea about him and took her home. Ellis did not ask defendant for a second date. Ellis did not report his conversation with defendant to the police until after he learned of her arrest in August 1998.\nHugh O\u2019Neill testified that, in May or June of 1997, he met defendant in a bar in Chicago. Defendant gave O\u2019Neill her telephone number, and he called her to arrange a date the next week. O\u2019Neill took defendant to dinner. During dinner, defendant asked O\u2019Neill whether he would be willing to do something for her. O\u2019Neill asked what, and defendant asked if he would be willing to kill her ex-husband. Defendant told O\u2019Neill that her ex-husband had pushed her down a flight of stairs and killed her baby. O\u2019Neill told defendant he had no interest in helping her and ended the date. Defendant said that she would have to find some other way and that she might try \u201changing out in strip clubs\u201d to find some guy willing to kill her husband. O\u2019Neill testified that he did not report his conversation with defendant to the police until after he learned of her arrest.\nVictor Lazzaroni, a general contractor, testified that, in June 1997, he was meeting friends for dinner at a steak house on Rush Street in Chicago. While he was seated in the bar area with his friends, Lazzaroni saw defendant standing near their table. One of Lazzaroni\u2019s friends, Seymour Goldstein, asked defendant to join them for a drink. Lazzaroni asked defendant if she was married, and she responded that she was but wished she was not. Defendant said that she wished her husband would die. Lazzaroni cautioned defendant that she should not speak that way because someone might overhear. Defendant said that she owned some real estate that she wanted to develop. Goldstein told defendant she should speak to Lazzaroni because he was a builder. Defendant joined Lazzaroni and his friends for dinner. During dinner defendant discussed her plans to develop the real estate, but said that she could not do so until the divorce was final. Defendant said she wished she could find someone to kill her husband. Lazzaroni again cautioned her about speaking like that. During dinner, Lazzaroni saw a business associate in the restaurant. They briefly discussed a construction project and Lazzaroni gave the man his telephone number. Lazzaroni left the restaurant after dinner.\nLazzaroni further testified that he received a telephone call from defendant a few days later. Defendant left a voice mail message for him, said she was April, and asked him to call her. Lazzaroni did not immediately recognize the name \u201cApril,\u201d but returned the telephone call. Lazzaroni spoke to defendant, who told him that they had met at the restaurant and said that she would like to discuss the real estate development. Lazzaroni said that he was busy and asked her to call back the next week. Defendant telephoned Lazzaroni the next week and spoke about the real estate. Lazzaroni asked if defendant\u2019s divorce was final, and she responded \u201cnot yet, but I wish that he would die.\u201d Lazzaroni cautioned defendant not to speak that way. Defendant said she wanted to meet with Lazzaroni and told him that she was in Itasca. Lazzaroni was on his way to a meeting in Itasca and agreed to meet defendant at a hotel bar. At the bar, defendant again said that she wished her husband would die or that she could pay someone to kill him. Lazzaroni told her not to speak that way and told her to call him if she ever got the land. Approximately one week later, defendant telephoned Lazzaroni again. Lazzaroni was in his car approaching his home and told defendant that he would call her back. Lazzaroni called defendant from his home telephone. Lazzaroni testified that defendant again said that she wished she could find someone to kill her husband.\nLazzaroni further testified that he began to worry that he might be criminally liable if defendant made good on her threats to find someone to kill her husband. Lazzaroni called Ron Hasko, an acquaintance who worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (the FBI). Lazzaroni\u2019s acquaintance was not available but his partner, Joseph Stiller, returned the telephone call. Lazzaroni spoke to Stiller and told him about his conversations with defendant. Stiller told Lazzaroni that someone from the FBI would telephone defendant and warn her that they were aware of the threats. Lazzaroni never heard from defendant again.\nRonald Loch, an FBI special agent, testified that, in June 1997, he was assigned to a violent crimes task force in Chicago. Loch conducted a follow up investigation of Lazzaroni\u2019s complaint. Loch received a telephone number, 847-758-1107, from Lazzaroni. Loch called the telephone number and a woman answered and identified herself as April Goodman. Loch told the woman that he had information that she had \u201creached out to somebody to have her husband killed.\u201d The woman asked who that person was. Loch responded that he could not divulge that information. The woman said that her husband had been spreading rumors about her and that he might be the source of the information. Loch opened a case file and documented the telephone conversation, but did not attempt to locate Albert Goodman.\nOn cross-examination, Loch admitted that he had never spoken to defendant before or after the telephone conversation. Loch admitted that he did not call 796-9600 to determine an address associated with the telephone number he called. Loch testified that he and Stiller had driven past what they believed was defendant\u2019s home but did not locate her. Loch testified that he did not see the woman he spoke to on the telephone but that she identified herself as April Goodman. Loch admitted that he did not attempt to determine who had access to the telephone he had called.\nFollowing cross-examination, defendant moved to strike Loch\u2019s testimony arguing that the State failed to lay a proper foundation for the admission of the conversation. The trial court denied the motion, stating:\n\u201cThe Court finds under the totality of the evidence that the manner of obtaining the number, the person identifying herself as April Goodman, the content of the statement combined is sufficient for foundation purposes, and you can argue weight to the jury.\u201d\nPeter Bukiri, a retired Chicago police officer, testified that in August 1998 he was a violent crimes detective. On August 3, 1998, Bukiri was assigned to investigate defendant. When Bukiri was first assigned to the case he spoke to Barry Wolf (no testimony was given describing his relationship with the defendant). After speaking to Wolf, Bukiri accompanied Wolf to his home. Wolf made a telephone call to defendant while Bukiri listened on an extension. Wolf told defendant that he had found \u201csomeone to take care of her problem.\u201d Wolf told defendant that she could meet this person the next day at a restaurant on Rush Street. Defendant asked if Wolf could still get her a gun. \u2022\nBukiri further testified that on August 4, 1998, he met with an assistant State\u2019s Attorney and prepared an affidavit and orders for a consensual overhear. Bukiri obtained a court order authorizing the overhear and concealed an electronic recording device on his body. At approximately 4 p.m., Bukiri and Wolf entered the restaurant. Wolf introduced Bukiri to defendant and left the restaurant. Bukiri identified two tape recordings made of his conversation with defendant and identified a transcript prepared from the tape recording. Defendant told Bukiri she had several wishes, including a financial transfer and an arranged marriage to Goodman where he would drown on the honeymoon. Bukiri told defendant that he did not do the things she was contemplating and asked defendant \u201cyou either want him killed or you don\u2019t want him killed.\u201d Defendant replied \u201cWell, I do.\u201d Defendant and Bukiri continued their conversation. Bukiri and defendant agreed that defendant would pay Bukiri $5,000 to kill Goodman and defendant would give him a $1,000 down payment. Bukiri concluded the conversation saying, \u201cBefore I walk away from here\u2014 you are gonna pay me $5,000 to kill him?\u201d Defendant said that she was concerned that Bukiri was setting her up, but then said \u201cThat\u2019s my idea.\u201d\nBukiri further testified that he met defendant again on August 10, 1998, in a parking lot. Bukiri was driving an undercover vehicle that had been outfitted with audio and video recording devices. Defendant said she wanted to talk and began a lengthy rambling commentary on her life and her acquaintance with Wolf. Defendant\u2019s soliloquy included the following comments: \u201cI couldn\u2019t mess around once I started something. I had to go through with it the whole way or I would be killed.\u201d The conversation continued and Bukiri told defendant \u201cif you hand me the $1,000, I\u2019m gonna kill Albert in the next couple of days.\u201d Defendant replied \u201cI\u2019m gonna give you the $1,000. That\u2019s what I want to have happen but this whole time it was Barry doing it.\u201d Bukiri testified that defendant handed him $1,000 in cash while they were sitting in the undercover vehicle. A videotape shown to the jury depicted defendant handing Bukiri the money and Bukiri counting the money.\nJoann Jontz testified that in 1997 she was defendant\u2019s roommate. Jontz testified that defendant repeatedly said that she wanted Goodman killed. The State asked Jontz whether \u201c847-758-1107\u201d was the telephone number at the town house she shared with defendant. Jontz replied \u201cFrom what I recall, yes.\u201d Jontz further testified that no one else lived in the town house and that she never received a telephone call from an FBI agent.\nThe State rested its case, and defendant rested without presenting evidence. The State submitted a proposed instruction on compulsion that included a modification of Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal No. 24 \u2014 25.21 (3d ed. 1992) (hereinafter IPI Criminal 3d No. 24 \u2014 25.21). The modified instruction added the language \u201cA threat of future death or great bodily harm is not sufficient to excuse criminal conduct.\u201d Defendant objected to the modified instruction. The trial court ruled that the proposed modification was in accordance with a similar instruction approved in People v. Carini, 151 Ill. App. 3d 264 (1986), and that the modified instruction would be given over defendant\u2019s objection. The trial court instructed the jury, and the parties made closing arguments. Defendant made no objections during the State\u2019s arguments. The jury retired to deliberate and subsequently found defendant guilty. The trial court ordered a presentence investigation and continued the matter until November 3, 2000.\nOn November 3, 2000, defendant filed a motion for a new trial. Defense counsel indicated that he believed defendant was having difficulty assisting him in preparation for sentencing and requested another BCX. The trial court' ordered a behavioral clinical examination and continued the matter for hearing on defendant\u2019s posttrial motions and sentencing. On December 7, 2000, the trial court conducted a hearing on defendant\u2019s posttrial motions. The trial court indicated that it had received a report from Dr. Markos regarding defendant\u2019s fitness. Before the trial court heard arguments on the posttrial motions, the following colloquy occurred:\n\u201cTHE COURT: So the record is clear, the opinion of Doctor Markos is that defendant is fit for sentencing.\nMR. BYRNE [assistant State\u2019s Attorney]: We will stipulate to the report, Judge.\nMR. BREEN [Defense counsel]: If I may, Judge, for the record indicate that the report further states that she has a history of mental disorders. Bipolar disorder mixed type but is currently in remission with psychotropic medications. ***\nThe doctor indicates such that she is not experiencing any medical side effects which interfere with her fitness.\u201d\nMR. BYRNE: We will stipulate to that.\nMR. BREEN: So will I, your Honor.\nTHE COURT: Given that, a couple of procedural matters, are both sides ready to proceed on the arguments on the motion for a new trial?\u201d\nThe trial court did not make any further reference to defendant\u2019s fitness for sentencing. The trial court subsequently denied defendant\u2019s posttrial motion.\nOn January 19, 2001, the trial court conducted a sentencing hearing. The trial court heard evidence in aggravation and mitigation and continued the matter for sentencing. On January 22, 2001, the trial court sentenced defendant to 30 years\u2019 incarceration and fined defendant $25,000. Defendant filed a motion to reconsider the sentence. The trial court denied defendant\u2019s motion to reconsider, and defendant timely appeals.\nDISCUSSION\nAlthough defendant has elected to organize her contentions of error differently, we will address the various contentions of error as they arose chronologically during trial. Defendant contends that this matter must be remanded for a new fitness hearing and, if necessary, a new trial, because the trial court failed to make an independent judgment regarding her fitness to stand trial. \u201c[T]he due process clauses of the Illinois and United States Constitutions prohibit the prosecution of a defendant who is unfit for trial.\u201d People v. Cleer, 328 Ill. App. 3d 428, 431 (2002), citing Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, \u00a7 2; U.S. Const., amends. VI, XIV Once a bona fide doubt regarding a defendant\u2019s fitness has been raised, the trial court has a duty to hold a fitness hearing. Cleer, 328 Ill. App. 3d at 431. A trial court may rely on expert testimony regarding fitness, but ultimately the trial court must decide whether a defendant is fit to stand trial and the court may not abandon its role as decision maker by simply deferring to the opinion of an expert. See People v. Contorno, 322 Ill. App. 3d 177, 179 (2001). A trial court may rely on stipulated testimony during a fitness hearing but must observe the \u201cfine line\u201d that separates the permissible use of stipulated testimony from the impermissible. See People v. Mounson, 185 Ill. App. 3d 31, 37 (1989), citing People v. Thompson, 158 Ill. App. 3d 860 (1987). The parties may stipulate to what an expert would testify, but they may not stipulate to an expert\u2019s conclusions regarding fitness. Contorno, 322 Ill. App. 3d at 179.\nAt the pretrial fitness hearing, the record clearly reflects that the parties only stipulated to what Dr. Markos \u201cwould testify.\u201d Further, the trial corut had an ample opportunity to observe defendant when she testified during the suppression hearing. Defendant observes, correctly, that the trial corut did not question defendant during the fitness hearing or make express findings regarding the factors it considered when finding her fit for trial. In light of the trial court\u2019s independent duty to determine a defendant\u2019s fitness to stand trial, a trial court may certainly exercise its discretion to pose questions to the defendant. See People v. Johnson, 327 Ill. App. 3d 203, 205 (2001) (recognizing a trial court\u2019s discretion to question witnesses to clarify ambiguities and help elicit the truth). We also believe that appellate review of fitness findings would be enhanced if trial courts took a few moments to briefly state the bases for their findings regarding fitness. However, we are aware of no statute or supreme court rule that requires trial courts to either independently question a defendant or make express findings of fact regarding fitness. Although the record is not as clear as it could be, we nevertheless find that the pretrial fitness hearing conducted by the trial corut fell on the permissible side of the \u201cfine line\u201d identified in Thompson. See Mounson, 185 Ill. App. 3d at 37. Therefore, we conclude that the procedure used by the trial court during the pretrial fitness hearing did not violate the requirements of due process.\nDefendant also contends that the trial court erred when it admitted evidence of her earlier attempts to solicit someone to kill Goodman, because the danger of unfair prejudice outweighed the probative value of this evidence. Evidence of other offenses is admissible if relevant to any issue other than a defendant\u2019s propensity to commit crime. People v. Bedoya, 325 Ill. App. 3d 926, 937 (2001). Such evidence is properly admitted to establish, for example, intent, identity, motive, or absence of mistake. Bedoya, 325 Ill. App. 3d at 937. If the trial court determines that other offense evidence is relevant, it must balance the probative value against the potential for unfair prejudice. Bedoya, 325 Ill. App. 3d at 937. Other offense evidence should be excluded if the probative value is substantially outweighed by the potential for unfair prejudice. Bedoya, 325 Ill. App. 3d at 937.\nAt trial, defendant argued that she did not intend to have Bukiri kill Goodman because when she first met with Bukiri she was only considering a financial transaction. Defendant also argued that Wolf was orchestrating defendant\u2019s interaction with Bukiri and that she was acting out of compulsion. The other offense evidence was highly probative of all of these issues. Evidence that defendant asked several different men to kill Goodman, years before she met Bukiri, negates the inference that she was considering a purely financial arrangement. The same evidence negates the inference that Wolf was orchestrating defendant\u2019s actions, because there was no evidence that she had even met Wolf when she asked the other men to kill Goodman. The other offense evidence also suggests that defendant\u2019s intent to kill Goodman arose prior to and independent of whatever threat of violence might have been made against her. We find that the other offense evidence was highly probative of several key issues in the case.\nDefendant argues that the potential for unfair prejudice was high because the State created a \u201cmini-trial\u201d about the other offense evidence. Defendant argues that the amount of other offense evidence was excessive because five of seven witnesses testified about the other offenses. We find this comparison of the number of witnesses testifying about various aspects of the case meaningless. The State was required to produce numerous other offense witnesses only because defendant expressed her desire to have Goodman killed to so many different people. Conversely, only a single witness was required to establish the elements of the substantive offense because Bukiri was a witness to all of the relevant acts. We do not find that the potential for unfair prejudice was significant. Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not err when it admitted the other offense evidence.\nDefendant contends that the trial court erroneously admitted Loch\u2019s testimony regarding his telephone conversation with defendant because it lacked an adequate foundation. A mere assertion by a telephone caller as to his or her identity, being hearsay cannot be taken as a sufficient showing of the other person\u2019s identity. People v. Caffey, 205 Ill. 2d 52, 94 (2001). However, even if a witness is unable to identify a caller\u2019s voice, the caller\u2019s identity can be established through other circumstantial evidence. Caffey, 205 Ill. 2d at 94-95.\nIn this case we believe, as the trial court did, that there was sufficient circumstantial evidence to establish that Loch spoke to defendant on the telephone. Lazzaroni identified defendant and testified that he had spoken to her on the telephone several times. Lazzaroni further testified that he had initiated several of the telephone calls. Loch testified that he obtained a telephone number for defendant from Lazzaroni. Loch testified that he called the number and spoke to a woman. The woman identified herself as defendant. During the conversation, the woman, although she did not admit solicitation of murder, did not express surprise that someone had reported that she had done so. We note that Loch did not attempt to confirm through the telephone company that the number Lazzaroni gave him was listed to defendant or otherwise confirm the identify of the woman to whom he spoke. We also note that the State did not ask Lazzaroni to verify the telephone number at which he reached defendant. However, we believe that these factors affect only the weight, not the admissibility of the evidence. Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it admitted this evidence.\nDefendant contends that the State made several improper comments during closing arguments. Defendant argues that the State made improper arguments regarding the other offense evidence, including the telephone conversation Loch described in his testimony. Defendant also argues that the State improperly commented on her failure to testify. Defendant did not object to these comments during trial, and therefore, she has waived this issue on appeal. See People v. Kuntu, 196 Ill. 2d 105, 129 (2001). Defendant urges us to consider these contentions under the plain error doctrine. We have considered the allegedly improper comments in the context of the State\u2019s entire closing argument. We do not find the comments so inflammatory that defendant could not have received a fair trial or so flagrant as to threaten the deterioration of the judicial process. See Kuntu, 196 Ill. 2d at 129. Therefore, we find no plain error to excuse defendant\u2019s procedural default.\nDefendant also contends that the trial court abused its discretion when it gave the jury a modified instruction on compulsion. Supreme Court Rule 451(a) (134 Ill. 2d R. 451(a)) requires a trial court to instruct the jury pursuant to the pattern criminal instructions, unless the trial court determines that the pattern instruction does not accurately state the law. People v. Nutall, 312 Ill. App. 3d 620, 633 (2000). Although a trial court should use a pattern instruction if an appropriate one exists, the decision whether to give a nonpattern instruction remains a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court. Nutall, 312 Ill. App. 3d at 633.\nAs given by the trial court, the compulsion instruction, IPI Criminal 3d No. 24 \u2014 25.21, reads:\n\u201cIt is a defense to the charge made against the defendant that she acted under the compulsion of threat or menace of the imminent infliction of death or great bodily harm, if she reasonably believed death or great bodily harm would be inflicted upon her if she did not perform the conduct with which she is charged.\u201d\nThe trial court modified the instruction by adding the following language:\n\u201cA threat of future death or great bodily harm is not sufficient to excuse criminal conduct.\u201d\nDefendant argues that the modified instruction conflicts with the pattern instruction and misstates the law because \u201cfuture\u201d is not the opposite of \u201cimminent.\u201d Defendant argues that because any threat of harm must relate to the \u201cfuture,\u201d all threats of harm, even imminent threats of harm, would be improperly excluded from the compulsion defense by the instruction given by the trial court. In People v. Carini, 151 Ill. App. 3d 264 (1986), this court considered similar arguments challenging a nearly identical modification to the compulsion instruction. The Carini court concluded that the modification \u201cmerely clarifies the term \u2018imminent\u2019 \u201d and held that giving the modified instruction did not constitute an abuse of discretion. Carini, 151 Ill. App. 3d at 283. We also believe that the modified instruction merely clarifies the term \u201cimminent\u201d and find no reason to depart from the logic of, or the holding reached in, Carini. Therefore, we conclude that the modified instruction accurately stated the law.\nWe also conclude that the modified instruction was appropriately given in this case. Defendant\u2019s compulsion defense was based solely on the comment she made to Bukiri that she \u201cwould be killed\u201d if she did not go through with the plan to solicit him to murder Goodman. This comment reveals no detail about who made the threat, when it would be carried out, or by whom. We believe that the jury could find that this vague comment referred only to a \u201cfuture\u201d threat of injury. Accordingly, we conclude that the evidence supported the modified instruction, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it gave the modified instruction to the jury.\nFinally, defendant contends that this matter should be remanded for a new hearing regarding her fitness for sentencing, because the fitness hearing conducted by the trial court failed to comply with due process. We agree with defendant that the report of proceedings raises serious questions about whether the proceedings met the due process requirements for a fitness hearing. Specifically, the parties stipulated to \u201cthe report.\u201d\nWe believe our review of the fitness hearing should begin with a more fundamental question, i.e., was there a bona fide doubt regarding defendant\u2019s fitness for sentencing? After examining the relevant portions of the record in context, it appears to us that the fitness hearing the trial court conducted was prompted not by a bona fide doubt regarding defendant\u2019s fitness but by an abundance of caution and defense counsel\u2019s desire to make a complete record. Although defense counsel had expressed some concern regarding defendant\u2019s ability to assist in preparation for the sentencing hearing, he presented no specific examples and merely noted that defendant might be receiving different medication than those considered during the initial fitness hearing. Accordingly, we believe that when the parties stipulated to the report, they were, in fact, stipulating that nothing in the report was sufficient to raise a bona fide doubt regarding fitness. This view of the proceedings explains the trial court\u2019s failure to make an explicit finding regarding fitness; fitness was no longer an issue.' Therefore, we conclude that the hearing the trial court conducted did not implicate the due process concerns inherent in a fitness hearing because no bona fide doubt regarding fitness remained after the parties stipulated to the psychiatrist\u2019s report. Accordingly, we reject defendant\u2019s argument that the second fitness hearing violated her right to due process.\nAlthough we hold that the hearing conducted in this case did not violate due process, we believe it is appropriate to caution trial courts regarding their obligations regarding fitness hearings. We believe the better practice would be for trial courts to make an express finding as to whether a bona fide doubt regarding fitness exists before ordering a clinical examination. Trial courts should also scrutinize stipulations regarding psychiatric reports carefully. Finally, if a trial court conducts a fitness hearing, whether or not it is based on a stipulation, the trial court should make an express finding on the record regarding the defendant\u2019s fitness, and when appropriate, briefly summarize the basis for its finding.\nCONCLUSION\nFor the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nGALLAGHER and O\u2019BRIEN, JJ, concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE TULLY" } ], "attorneys": [ "Thomas M. Breen, Todd S. Pugh, and Gina T. Marotta, all of Thomas M. Breen & Associates, and Lawrence C. Marshall, both of Chicago, for appellant.", "Richard A. Devine, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Renee Goldfarb, Peter D. Fischer, and Carol L. Gaines, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. APRIL GOODMAN, Defendant-Appellant.\nFirst District (6th Division)\nNo. 1\u201401\u20140532\nOpinion filed March 5, 2004.\nThomas M. Breen, Todd S. Pugh, and Gina T. Marotta, all of Thomas M. Breen & Associates, and Lawrence C. Marshall, both of Chicago, for appellant.\nRichard A. Devine, State\u2019s Attorney, of Chicago (Renee Goldfarb, Peter D. Fischer, and Carol L. Gaines, Assistant State\u2019s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0278-01", "first_page_order": 296, "last_page_order": 310 }