Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Post-Conviction Hearing Act
Defendant was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and home invasion. He initially was sentenced to death, which was later commuted to natural life imprisonment. Defendant appealed from denial of leave to file his second successive post-conviction petition, arguing that his trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective for failing to present an allegedly exculpatory witness and that the State used perjured testimony. The appellate court affirmed, concluding that defendant failed to establish the requisite cause and prejudice for leave to file his post-conviction petition. (PUCINSKI and COGHLAN, concurring)