The PEOPLE v. Edwards

This is an appeal from a judgment of the circuit court of Cook County dismissing defendant’s post-conviction petition without an evidentiary hearing. On May 3, 1965, defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of murder and was sentenced to the penitentiary for a term of 14 to 17 years. On February 7, 1969, defendant filed a pro se petition pursuant to the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Ill.Rev.Stat. 1969, ch. 38, par. 122 — 1 et seq.) alleging inter alia that his guilty plea was the result of a coerced confession. He requested the appointment of counsel. The trial court complied with this request and…