Killer of Rolling Meadows man upset he's not sentenced

Patrick Taylor wants to go to prison.

He thought he would be on his way after Friday's hearing before Cook County Judge Hyman Reibman.

Reibman presided over the Chicago man's weeklong trial, which concluded in July with a six-man, six-woman jury convicting Taylor of first-degree murder for the 2006 shooting death of Marquis Lovings in Lovings' Rolling Meadows condominium.

Taylor faces a sentence of natural life in prison for killing Lovings, a 1995 Barrington High School graduate who prosecutors say supplemented his fledgling career as a rap producer and performer by selling cannabis. Prosecutors claim that combination of drugs and money led Taylor to target the 30-year-old victim, who was gunned down in front of four eyewitnesses.

On Friday, Cook County Assistant Public Defender Jim Mullenix argued that Taylor should receive a new trial based primarily the court's ruling that denied Mullenix's request to present expert testimony on the unreliability of eyewitnesses' memory and how those memories can be influenced by other recollections from other eyewitnesses.

Riebman denied Mullenix's motion for a new trial, which prompted an outburst from Taylor.

“Mr. Taylor wants to be sentenced as soon as possible,” Mullenix said.

“Today,” interjected Taylor.

Mullenix explained to his client that a prosecution witness was not available and the sentencing would have to be delayed. That did little to appease Taylor, who demanded to be heard.

“You have two fine lawyers. Let them do their jobs,” said Riebman, warning Taylor that he would not tolerate any further interruptions in his courtroom.

The warnings had no effect on Taylor.

“I want him to sentence me now. I want to go to the penitentiary. I want to do this right now,” said Taylor, surrounded by five Cook County sheriff's deputies who then escorted him from the courtroom into the holding cells.

He next appears in court on Oct. 18.