People v. Lawson

In 1979, defendant Herbert Lawson was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. On direct appeal, this court in an unpublished order rejected defendant’s claim that he should have been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Defendant then filed two petitions for post-conviction relief, the most recent of which is the subject of this appeal. The issue on appeal is whether the trial court erred in dismissing defendant’s most recent petition without conducting an evidentiary hearing.

A recitation of the procedural history of this case is necessary to an understanding and…