People v. Morgan

Defendant argued that the new evidence, particularly the recanted testimony of an eyewitness, established that he was actually innocent of the crimes for which he had been convicted. The circuit court denied defendant’s claim after conducting an evidentiary hearing. We now affirm.

The legal proceedings underlying this case began in 1983, when a jury convicted defendant of murdering William Motley and Kenneth Merkson and of raping and the aggravated kidnapping of Phyllis Gregson. Defendant received a death sentence for the murders and prison terms for the remaining convictions. On direct…