People v. Turner

The petitioner, Robert Turner, was convicted of murder, aggravated kidnapping, unlawful restraint, aggravated criminal sexual assault and robbery and was sentenced to death. Petitioner appeals from a Macoupin County circuit court order dismissing his post-conviction petition without an evidentiary hearing. Because petitioner was sentenced to death, this court has jurisdiction over the instant appeal pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 651(a) (134 Ill. 2d R. 651(a)). For the following reasons, we now reverse the circuit court and remand with directions.

BACKGROUND

A jury in the circuit court of…