People v. Montanez

This case presents question as to whether trial court properly denied defendant’s motion seeking leave to file successive post-conviction petition that challenged his first-degree murder conviction on grounds that State had withheld favorable evidence in violation of Brady. Essence of Brady claim stemmed from basement files found at Chicago Police Department facility that contained report that included summaries of statements made by several State’s witnesses, which defendant asserted contained material evidence that could have impeached key State’s witness and would have suggested that another individual had committed charged offense. Appellate Court, in affirming trial court, found that statements in report would not have exculpated defendant nor establish that only one individual committed charged offense. Moreover, Appellate Court further found that contents of report were not material to defendant’s guilt or innocence, and that evidence overwhelmingly supported defendant’s guilty verdict.