People State Illinois v. Paul S. Erickson

JUSTICE FREEMAN delivered the opinion of the court: After waiving the jury that had convicted him, defendant was sentenced to death for raping Elizabeth Launer, murdering her,
and concealing the homicide. This court affirmed the convictions and sentence on direct appeal. ( People v. Erickson (1987),
117 Ill. 2d 271, 111 Ill. Dec. 924, 513 N.E.2d 367). After the United States Supreme Court declined review ( Erickson v. Illinois
(1988), 486 U.S. 1017, 100 L. Ed. 2d 216, 108 S. Ct. 1754), defendant pursued, unsuccessfully, post-conviction relief (Ill.
Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 122-1) in the circuit court of Cook County. Defendant appeals the dismissal of his petition
for that relief (134 Ill. 2d R. 651(a)), seeking, alternatively, remand for an evidentiary hearing on it or a new sentencing
hearing.