People v. Neal

The petitioner, Johnny Neal, Jr., appeals from an order of the circuit court of Lake County denying, without an evidentiary hearing, his petition for post-conviction relief. Because the petitioner was sentenced to death for an underlying murder conviction, the present appeal lies directly to this court (107 Ill. 2d R. 651(a)).

Petitioner was convicted of the murder and armed robbery of 63-year-old Lillian Waid. According to the trial evidence — an important part of which consisted of petitioner’s confession — petitioner and his wife knew Mrs. Waid and went to her home on the evening of the…