People v. Harris

Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Postconviction Petitions
Citation
Case Number: 
2019 IL App (4th) 170261
Decision Date: 
Monday, August 12, 2019
District: 
4th Dist.
Division/County: 
Logan Co.
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Justice: 
KNECHT

Defendant was convicted, after jury trial, of 5 counts of murder as to members of his ex-wife's family, and other related offenses. Court properly entered summary dismissal of Defendant's pro se postconviction petition. Defendant's personal evidentiary affidavit summarizing what he believed would be the testimony of his ex-wife and their daughter does not demonstrate his allegation of self-defense is capable of objective or independent corroboration and does not identify the availability of evidence alleged to support the allegation.Defendant's imprisonment, by itself, fails to adequately explain why he was unable to obtain supporting material. (TURNER and CAVANAGH, concurring.)