People v. Alfano

The defendant was convicted by a jury of aggravated arson and arson with intent to defraud an insurer. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1979, ch. 38, pars. 20 — 1.1(a)(3) and 20 — 1(b).) He was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for six years for the former offense and to four years probation for the latter, the sentences to be served concurrently. He filed a direct appeal which raised nine issues, among them whether the State failed to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. During the pendency of the appeal, he acquired knowledge of the fact of perjury committed by an expert witness for the…