A guilty verdict has been returned against a homeless man who defended himself against murder and aggravated battery charges in the fatal shooting of an off-duty Chicago police officer.
Jovan Battle rejected an attorney appointed by the court to represent him for the March 25 fatal shooting of off-duty Officer John Rivera and the wounding of Ruben Sierra. Battle was found guilty late Friday.
Prosecutors alleged the 32-year-old Battle pointed out Rivera as one of several men who fought with Menelik Jackson and Jaquan Washington, who face murder charges. Prosecutors say Rivera, who was out with friends, had nothing to do with the fight.
Battle was allowed to represent himself after passing a mental fitness evaluation. He argued he shouldn’t be tried for murder because he didn’t know his co-defendants and wasn’t the one who fired shots into the 23-year-old Rivera’s car.
Jackson and Washington are awaiting trial.
