People v. Howard

In 1986, defendant Stanley Howard was convicted of armed robbery, rape and home invasion. He was sentenced to 50 years, to be served consecutively to a previously imposed sentence of 28 years for another armed robbery. In 1987, defendant was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Defendant served 16 years on Death Row before he was pardoned on January 10, 2003, by then-Governor Ryan on the grounds of actual innocence. On December 24, 2003, less than a year after being pardoned, defendant filed a postconviction petition pursuant to section 2 — 1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure (the…