People v. O'Connell

Chief Justice Thomas and Justices Freeman, Fitzgerald, Garman, Karmeier, and Burke concurred in the judgment and opinion.

OPINION

In attempting to raise an actual-innocence claim, defendant, John O’Connell, filed a pro se motion for DNA testing pursuant to section 116 — 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/116 — 3 (West 2002)). The circuit court of Cook County denied defendant’s motion. The appellate court reversed the trial court’s order denying defendant’s motion for DNA testing and remanded the cause for further proceedings. 365 Ill. App. 3d 872. This court allowed…