People v. Roland

This case presents question as to whether trial court properly dismissed at second stage of proceedings defendant’s petition for post-conviction relief that alleged that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to investigate defendant’s mental health history in support of his defense. Appellate Court, in reversing trial court and remanding matter back to trial court for third-stage evidentiary hearing, noted that prior Appellate Court panel had made observation that defendant’s medical records that documented his prior suicide attempt could have corroborated his testimony at trial that he was trying to commit suicide when he fired gun in direction of police officers. Moreover, Appellate Court found that defendant had satisfied both prongs of Strickland for purposes of pursuing ineffective assistance of counsel claim.