Saying a cabdriver convicted twice of trying to kill policemenwas a "very dangerous man to have on the streets," a judge Wednesdaysentenced Jamaljah Aliwoli to 120 years in prison for shooting threeofficers last year.
Under the maximum sentence imposed by Criminal Court Judge JamesM. Bailey, Aliwoli, 53, will be eligible for parole in 60 years.
"You are a very dangerous man to have on the streets of . . .any city," Bailey told Aliwoli, formerly of 7020 S. Jeffery. "Anypolice officers's life would be in jeopardy."
A jury last month found Aliwoli "guilty but mentally ill" in theattempted murder of three officers who were shot and wounded aftertwo of them stopped Aliwoli for improperly passing a school bus.
One of the officers, Daniel Duffy, was shot in the back andbuttocks during the March 29, 1988, attack and lost a kidney as aresult.
"If it wasn't due to the good job at the hospital, you and Duffywould be dead," Bailey told Aliwoli, who was shot six times duringthe shootout.
Assistant State's Attorneys Gayle Shines and John Eannace notedthat Aliwoli had been convicted of two counts of attempted murder in1971 for shooting at two officers. Neither was injured.
Prosecutors had contended Aliwoli turned violent during the 1988traffic stop after police announced they wanted to search him. Hewas on parole at the time and carrying a gun illegally.
Assistant Public Defenders Robert Lee and Nick Panarese askedthe judge to consider Aliwoli's mental condition. Though the juryhad rejected a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, it didfind him guilty but mentally ill. Lee said Aliwoli suffered from a"delusional thought disorder" that made him believe police were outto get him.
Lee said Aliwoli was a 53-year-old man with only two arrests whohad worked his whole life. "He's mentally ill," Lee said. "He shouldbe treated." However, it is up to the Illinois CorrectionsDepartment to decide if he needs treatment.
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