The People v. Southwood

Defendant Lawrence Lee Southwood pleaded guilty on June 10, 1969, to the charge of attempted murder, and was sentenced by the circuit court of Fulton County to imprisonment for a term of 15 to 16 years. He subsequently sought relief under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1969, ch. 38, par. 122 — 1 et seq.) His amended petition challenged the validity of the warrant upon which he was arrested, claims that there was not sufficient competent testimony before the grand jury to support his indictment, and argues finally that the court erred in accepting his plea of guilty without…