People v. Whalen ( 2021 )

NOTICE
2021 IL App (4th) 210068-U FILED
This Order was filed under November 18, 2021
Supreme Court Rule 23 and is Carla Bender
not precedent except in the NO. 4-21-0068
4th District Appellate
limited circumstances allowed
under Rule 23(e)(1). Court, IL
IN THE APPELLATE COURT
OF ILLINOIS
FOURTH DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the
Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Circuit Court of
v. ) McLean County
DONALD WHALEN, ) No. 91CF344
Defendant-Appellant. )
) Honorable
) Scott D. Drazewski,
) Judge Presiding.
JUSTICE TURNER delivered the judgment of the court.
Justices Holder White and Steigmann concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: The trial court did not err when it denied defendant’s petition for relief from
judgment pursuant to section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS
5/2-1401 (West 2018)).
¶2 On December 22, 2020, the trial court denied defendant Donald Whalen’s petition
for relief from judgment pursuant to section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735
ILCS 5/2-1401 (West 2018)). Defendant appeals, arguing the trial court abused its discretion in
failing to consider significant evidence that weighs on the side of petitioner’s innocence and in
denying his petition. We affirm.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 Because this court’s opinion in People v. Whalen, 2020 IL App (4th) 190171, 161
N.E.3d 314, extensively outlines the facts in this case, we need not repeat them here except as
necessary to explain our decision.
¶5 In November 1991, a jury found defendant guilty of murdering his father, William
Whalen, at the Twenty Grand Tap, a tavern owned by defendant’s mother and father. The trial
court sentenced defendant to a term of 60 years’ imprisonment. In his direct appeal, People v.
Whalen, 238 Ill. App. 3d 994, 999, 605 N.E.2d 604, 608 (1992), this court held defendant could
not complain he was not allowed to use an expert witness because defendant refused the trial
court’s offer to continue his trial, the court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the State to
present evidence defendant purchased drugs in Chicago after his father’s murder, and the court
did not err by prohibiting defendant from introducing evidence regarding Robert McElvaney,
whom defendant alleged may have murdered defendant’s father.
¶6 In August 2017, defendant filed a petition for relief from judgment pursuant to
section 2-1401 of the Code. In April 2018, defendant filed a supplement to his petition. In
November 2018, the State filed an amended motion to dismiss the petition, which the circuit
court denied.
¶7 In January 2019, the circuit court held an evidentiary hearing on defendant’s
petition. In February 2019, the court allowed defendant’s petition, vacated defendant’s
conviction, and ordered a new trial. The State appealed. This court reversed the circuit court’s
order granting the petition and vacating defendant’s conviction. Whalen, 2020 IL App (4th)
190171, ¶ 105. This court explained the circuit court justifiably and understandably applied the
wrong standard when ruling on defendant’s petition based on this court’s decision in People v.
Davis, 2012 IL App (4th) 110305, ¶¶ 62-63, 966 N.E.2d 570, where “this court erred by equating
the language ‘probably change the result on retrial’ with a ‘reasonable probability’ the result
would change on retrial.” Whalen, 2020 IL App (4th) 190171, ¶ 100.
¶8 In reversing the circuit court’s decision in the prior appeal in this case, this court
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explained a defendant has a higher burden of showing a different result is probable, not just a
reasonable probability. Whalen, 2020 IL App (4th) 190171, ¶ 100. This court “direct[ed] the
trial court to determine whether it is ‘probable’ or ‘more likely than not’ a jury would acquit
defendant after a new trial where the new evidence in this case is considered alongside the
original trial evidence.” Whalen, 2020 IL App (4th) 190171, ¶ 103.
¶9 On remand, after hearing arguments from the State and defense counsel, the
circuit court denied defendant’s petition. The court indicated the proper standard for it to apply
was whether it was probable or more likely than not that a trier of fact would find defendant not
guilty based on the “new” evidence defendant presented when considered alongside the evidence
at defendant’s original trial. The circuit court indicated this court’s opinion, which vacated the
circuit court’s prior ruling, accurately summarized the circuit court’s findings and the basis upon
which the circuit court vacated defendant’s conviction and granted defendant a new trial. After
further review and analysis of the trial proceedings and the section 2-1401 evidentiary hearing,
the circuit court made the following additional factual findings:
“First, the defendant was not convicted based upon biological evidence
left by him at the crime scene. In fact[,] all of the trial evidence excluded the
defendant as the source of any blood at the crime scene.
Two. The fact that defendant’s DNA evidence as established by both Dr.
Reich and Cellmark Forensics was not found at the murder scene on its own does
not establish that he did not commit the crime. The defendant was found guilty
without any biological evidence linking him to the murder.
Three. Since the defendant’s trial, no one other than the victim has been
identified positively as a source of DNA found at the crime scene. This is
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distinguishable from the facts in the Davis case where newly discovered DNA
evidence excluded the defendant as the donor of blood and semen that were left
on bedding where the victim in that case, who was both raped and murdered,
occurred, as well as at defendant’s trial. The State had argued how serological
evidence included the defendant as someone who could have committed the
crime. And so there was biological evidence that was submitted at Mr. Davis’[s]
trial that ultimately was determined to exclude him as the donor of that DNA.
The unknown mixed DNA profile that occurs on the three samples in this
case from the analysis conducted by Dr. Reich, including someone other than the
defendant and the victim, includes the possibility of contamination and does not
link to anyone who could be linked to this murder.
Fourth. Whoever murdered the victim may have done so without leaving
behind any DNA evidence.
Fifth. Randy McKinley never opined at trial whether the latent print was a
put down or take away and was never asked for his opinion. Additionally, the
trial prep outline does not make any reference to the latent prints as either being
put down or take away.
Michelle Triplett, although she compared the defendant’s print to the palm
print on the cue[,] was never asked by any attorney if the defendant’s palm print
was not a match. This was not any new evidence that was presented that it was
not—excuse me, there was no [new] evidence that was presented that it was not
the defendant’s palm print on the pool cue. So arguments in the alternative or
statements in the alternative or the negative I should say other than the manner in
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which I’ve described it.
Seven, although the substance on the pool cue in which the palm print was
left was never scientifically determined to be blood, that was also not new
evidence. The substance was never tested and the State introduced trial evidence
as to why.
In conclusion, the court having considered all the trial evidence along with
the new evidence submitted at the evidentiary hearings on the defendant’s 2-1401
petition, both the testimony and exhibits, the authorities cited by counsel, the
common law record, the official transcripts of the proceedings, case law precedent
and otherwise being fully advised in the premises, the court hereby finds and
orders as follows.
This court does not redecide the defendant’s guilt on a 2-1401 petition.
The trial court is required to scrutinize the facts and surrounding circumstances
more closely. The sufficiency of the State’s evidence to convict beyond a
reasonable doubt is not the determination the trial court must make. If it were, the
remedy would be an acquittal, not a new trial. Probability, not certainty, is the
key as the trial court in effect predicts what another jury would likely do
considering all the evidence both old and new together.
The petitioner is entitled to a new trial a[s] a matter of law when the newly
discovered evidence is material, not cumulative, and of such a conclusive
character that it is probable or more likely than not a jury would acquit the
defendant after a new trial where the evidence in this case is considered alongside
the original trial evidence. Based on this record, the court finds that petitioner has
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not met his burden and the petition is hereby denied. Defendant’s convictions
[sic] are therefore reinstated, bond is ordered revoked.”
The court then awarded defendant sentencing credit for the time defendant spent on electronic
monitoring or in custody from the date of the court’s prior decision to December 22, 2020.
¶ 10 This appeal followed.
¶ 11 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 12 On appeal, defendant argues the circuit court erred in denying his section 2-1401
petition. According to defendant, the circuit court abused its discretion (1) by failing to consider
what defendant deems significant evidence that weighs on the side of his innocence and (2) by
finding other evidence was insufficient to probably change the result if he was retried.
¶ 13 To establish an actual innocence claim, a defendant must present evidence to
support his claim. Our supreme court recently explained:
“[T]he supporting evidence must be (1) newly discovered, (2) material and not
cumulative, and (3) of such conclusive character that it would probably change
the result on retrial. [Citations.] Newly discovered evidence is evidence that was
discovered after trial and that the petitioner could not have discovered earlier
through the exercise of due diligence. [Citation.] Evidence is material if it is
relevant and probative of the petitioner’s innocence. [Citation.] Noncumulative
evidence adds to the information that the fact finder heard at trial. [Citation.]
Lastly, the conclusive character element refers to evidence that, when considered
along with the trial evidence, would probably lead to a different result. [Citation.]
The conclusive character of the new evidence is the most important element of an
actual innocence claim. [Citation.]
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Ultimately, the question is whether the evidence supporting the
postconviction petition places the trial evidence in a different light and
undermines the court’s confidence in the judgment of guilt. [Citation.] The new
evidence need not be entirely dispositive to be likely to alter the result on retrial.
[Citation.] Probability, rather than certainty, is the key in considering whether the
fact finder would reach a different result after considering the prior evidence
along with the new evidence.” People v. Robinson, 2020 IL 123849, ¶¶ 47-48.
¶ 14 The parties do not agree what standard of review should be applied to this case.
Citing our supreme court’s opinion in Warrant County Soil & Water Conservation District v.
Walters, 2015 IL 117783, ¶ 51, 32 N.E.3d 1099, defendant states the circuit court’s ultimate
decision on a section 2-1401 petition is reviewed under the abuse of discretion standard of
review. However, citing People v. Burrows, 172 Ill. 2d 169, 180, 665 N.E.2d 1319, 1324 (1996),
the State argues we should apply a manifest weight of the evidence standard. For purposes of
this case, we need not decide which standard is correct because under either standard we would
affirm the circuit court’s decision denying defendant’s section 2-1401 petition.
¶ 15 A. Evidentiary Issues
¶ 16 Before we reach the circuit court’s ultimate decision to deny defendant’s petition,
we address defendant’s argument the circuit court erroneously ignored evidence regarding
Robert McElvaney and William Craig Elliot.
¶ 17 1. Evidence Regarding Robert McElvaney
¶ 18 Defendant first argues the trial court erred in not considering McElvaney’s
invocation of his fifth amendment right not to testify as new evidence. We note defendant cites
no case law supporting his assertion a witness’s invocation of his fifth amendment right
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automatically constitutes evidence. This court is not a depository where an appellant can dump
the burden of argument and research. Elder v. Bryant, 324 Ill. App. 3d 526, 533, 755 N.E.2d
515, 522 (2001). “Contentions that are supported by some argument, yet lack citations of
authority, do not meet the requirements of [Illinois Supreme Court] Rule 341(e)(7)” (Elder, 324
Ill. App. 3d at 533, 755 N.E.2d at 522), now Illinois Supreme Court Rule 341(h)(7) (eff. Oct. 1,
2020). As a result, defendant forfeited any assertion the circuit court erred by not treating
McElvaney’s invocation of his fifth amendment right as new evidence when ruling on
defendant’s petition.
¶ 19 Defendant does cite authority for the proposition a court can draw an adverse
inference from a witness’s invocation of his fifth amendment right not to testify in certain
situations. People v. Gibson, 2018 IL App (1st) 162177, 105 N.E.3d 47; People v. Whirl, 2015
IL App (1st) 111483, 39 N.E.3d 114.
“In a civil action, the Fifth Amendment does not forbid an adverse inference
against a party who refuses to testify in response to probative evidence of alleged
misconduct. [Citations.] As long as there is ‘some’ evidence to support the
complainant’s allegations, a court may consider a party’s refusal to testify as
further evidence of the alleged misconduct. [Citation.]
While the circuit court may draw an adverse inference from a party’s
refusal to testify, it is not automatically required to do so. [Citations.] That said,
the circuit court does not have unfettered—or unreviewable—discretion to decline
to draw an adverse inference. To the contrary, as we held in Whirl, a failure to
draw an adverse inference may be error, even though the inference is permissive,
if there is no good reason why the inference should not have been drawn.”
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Gibson, 2018 IL App (1st) 162177, ¶¶ 85-86.
However, those cases are easily distinguishable from the situation here.
¶ 20 In Gibson and Whirl, the defendants in both cases accused Chicago police officers
of abusing them until they each made a false confession or incriminating admission. Gibson,
2018 IL App (1st) 162177, ¶ 1; Whirl, 2015 IL App (1st) 111483, ¶ 53-65. In Gibson, the
Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission (Commission) found credible evidence the defendant
was abused and referred the defendant’s claim to the circuit court for an evidentiary hearing.
Gibson, 2018 IL App (1st) 162177, ¶ 2. In Whirl, “[t]he Commission found that ‘by a
preponderance of the evidence, there is sufficient evidence of torture to conclude [Whirl’s]
Claim is credible and merits judicial review for appropriate relief.’ ” Whirl, 2015 IL App (1st)
111483, ¶ 45.
¶ 21 During the judicial review in both cases, police officers who had been accused of
abuse by the respective defendants invoked their fifth amendment right against
self-incrimination. Gibson, 2018 IL App (1st) 162177, ¶ 3; Whirl, 2015 IL App (1st) 111483,
¶ 68. In both cases, the First District found the circuit court erred by failing to draw an adverse
inference the respective officers had abused the respective defendants into making admissions.
Gibson, 2018 IL App (1st) 162177, ¶¶ 4-5; Whirl, 2015 IL App (1st) 111483, ¶ 107. In Gibson,
the First District stated:
“[W]hen, in the face of a credible allegation, an officer of the court is unwilling to
assure the court that he and his colleagues did not physically coerce a confession,
when he determines that a truthful answer could subject him to criminal liability,
the court should take careful note. Here, because most of the witnesses
disclaimed any ability to directly address the allegations of abuse, and the only
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material witnesses capable of so rebutting asserted his fifth-amendment rights, it
was error not to draw an adverse inference.” (Emphasis in original.) Gibson,
2018 IL App (1st) 162177, ¶ 108.
¶ 22 In the case before this court, the circuit court did not err by refusing to draw an
adverse inference against McElvaney because he invoked his fifth amendment right when called
to testify at the evidentiary hearing. We note defendant presented no new evidence linking
McElvaney to William Whalen’s murder.
¶ 23 Defendant essentially argues McElvaney’s guilt is established because he invoked
his fifth amendment right when called to testify at the evidentiary hearing. We find no merit in
this argument. McElvaney invoked his fifth amendment right nearly 28 years after William
Whalen’s murder when he knew defendant wanted to accuse him of the murder. As stated
earlier, defendant had no more evidence linking McElvaney to the crime than it did when
defendant was originally tried. At the time of defendant’s original trial, McElvaney did not
invoke his fifth amendment right when defendant called McElvaney as part of an offer of proof.
McElvaney answered all the questions asked of him.
¶ 24 Defendant also argues the trial court here should have taken McElvaney’s
testimony during the offer of proof into consideration when determining whether a different
result would probably occur if defendant was given a new trial. We disagree.
¶ 25 At the offer of proof hearing, the trial court considered whether defendant should
be allowed to present the following evidence: McElvaney was present at the tavern the night
William Whalen was murdered; William Whalen asked McElvaney to leave the tavern that
evening after McElvaney was in a confrontation with other customers; and the police went to
McElvaney’s residence the next morning, spoke to McElvaney, and McElvaney stated he would
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not hurt William Whalen after William’s body was discovered but before his murder was public
information. The trial court found an insufficient nexus between McElvaney and the murder
based on what he told the police and his testimony before the court. The court noted McElvaney
testified it was not unusual for William Whalen to ask him to leave the tavern and McElvaney
showed no animosity toward William Whalen after William asked him to leave. Instead,
McElvaney told William Whalen he would see him the next day.
¶ 26 This court affirmed the trial court’s ruling on direct appeal (see People v. Whalen,
238 Ill. App. 3d 994, 999, 605 N.E.2d 604, 608 (1992)), noting the State persuasively argued
McElvaney’s testimony would provide nothing more than a possible motive for murdering
William Whalen. Whalen, 238 Ill. App. 3d at 1003, 605 N.E.2d at 611. This court also pointed
to the lack of evidence linking McElvaney to the murder, stating:
“In the present case, the only evidence linking McElvaney to the crime
scene is the fact that one of a number of empty beer cans found at the scene was
the same brand that McElvaney drinks. No evidence was presented that
McElvaney had ever touched this can, nor is there any evidence of animosity
between McElvaney and the deceased. To the contrary, all evidence points to a
conclusion that their relationship was amicable. Finally, we are left with
McElvaney’s outburst to detectives that he would not hurt Bill Whalen, at a time
when he had no reason to know of any injury to the deceased. This evidence is
far too uncertain to form the basis for finding that the trial judge abused his
discretion in excluding McElvaney’s testimony.” Whalen, 238 Ill. App. 3d at
1005, 605 N.E.2d at 611.
Our supreme court also affirmed the trial court’s evidentiary ruling. See People v. Whalen, 158
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Ill. 2d 415, 431, 634 N.E.2d 725, 733 (1994). Because this evidence regarding McElvaney being
asked to leave the tavern and McElvaney’s statements to the police the next morning were not
allowed at defendant’s trial, it was not trial evidence nor was it new evidence. As a result, the
trial court did not err by not considering it in determining whether it was probable a retrial would
lead to a different result.
¶ 27 Defendant also points to the testimony of the victim’s wife that she had never
seen McElvaney kicked out of the tavern. Further, defendant points to McElvaney being the son
of the chief of the Bloomington Police Department at the time of the murder as a reason why the
police were not more skeptical of what McElvaney told them after William Whalen’s body was
discovered. According to defendant, this “new” evidence puts a different light on McElvaney’s
testimony during the offer of proof. However, defendant has failed to establish this evidence
was not known to defendant or could not have been discovered through the exercise of due
diligence before his trial. As a result, this information does not qualify as “new” evidence.
¶ 28 2. Affidavit of William Craig Elliot
¶ 29 With regard to William Craig Elliot’s affidavit, the circuit court ruled the affidavit
did not constitute “new” evidence it would consider. Defendant provides no argument and cites
no authority why the trial court erred in finding the affidavit did not constitute new evidence. As
a result, we find defendant forfeited any argument the trial court erred.
¶ 30 Defendant does argue the circuit court erred by failing to recognize the affidavit
still impacts Elliot’s potential weight as a witness at any retrial. However, if the affidavit was
neither “new evidence” nor evidence from the trial, the trial court did not err in not considering
this evidence in determining whether it was probable defendant would be found not guilty if he
was given a new trial.
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¶ 31 Regardless of forfeiture, Elliott’s affidavit would be of little help to defendant
during a second trial. According to defendant’s brief, “Elliott’s affidavit in the 2-1401 petition
avers that after [defendant’s] father’s death, [defendant] only had around $800 cash, not $3000
cash, as Elliot had testified at trial and that the investigating officers told Elliot that [defendant’s]
money had come from donations to the decedent’s family.”
¶ 32 This does not accurately reflect what Elliot’s affidavit stated. According to the
affidavit, Elliot never counted the money defendant had and could not say exactly how much
money defendant had when they went to Chicago to purchase drugs. Elliot stated in the affidavit
that after arriving in Chicago, he discovered defendant did not have as much money with him as
he had led Elliot to believe. Because Elliot did not count the money defendant had, Elliot’s
affidavit does not establish how much money defendant possessed, only the amount defendant
told Elliot he possessed.
¶ 33 Elliot noted he was frustrated with defendant because Elliot ended up having to
pay more than he expected for the drugs. Elliot did not contradict his testimony that defendant
told him he had $5000 and wanted to go to Chicago to buy drugs. The affidavit only
contradicted Elliot’s testimony that defendant paid $3000 for four ounces of cocaine in Chicago.
According to the affidavit, when Elliot and defendant returned to Bloomington, Elliot gave
defendant an ounce of cocaine because of the amount of money he paid. Elliot recalled he was
able to purchase an ounce of cocaine for around $800 at that time.
¶ 34 As the State points out in its brief, the State’s evidence of defendant’s motive for
killing his father would not be hampered by Elliot’s affidavit. We agree with the State the exact
amount or source of cash defendant used to purchase cocaine shortly after the murder carries
little importance when defendant was having money problems before the murder. Further, this
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was only part of the State’s case establishing defendant’s motive. The State presented other
evidence of the strained relationship between defendant and his father and defendant’s financial
problems. Defendant’s father had kicked him out of the familial residence. Defendant had
borrowed $350 from his father and was trying to avoid him. Further, defendant had a fight with
his father about a month before the murder. After his father’s death, defendant moved back into
the family home, cashed numerous checks from his mother, and sold the family’s lawn mower
for $500, which his mother and brother later reported as stolen.
¶ 35 B. Circuit Court’s Ultimate Ruling
¶ 36 Finally, defendant argues the circuit court erred in finding it was not probable a
new trial would lead to a different result based on the new evidence and the original trial
evidence. As noted above, defendant has not established the trial court erred in not considering
information regarding McElvaney or Elliot’s affidavit. As a result, we do not consider this
information in our review of the denial of defendant’s petition.
¶ 37 While defendant was able to present evidence his DNA was not found at the
murder scene, this evidence does not place the trial evidence in a different light for at least two
reasons. First, defendant was not convicted based on biological evidence. At defendant’s trial,
evidence was presented excluding defendant as the source of any blood found at the crime scene.
Second, the new DNA evidence did not identify another possible assailant. Dr. Karl Reich noted
he was confounded by the lack of DNA evidence of anyone other than the victim at the crime
scene. According to Dr. Reich, a person using a knife without a blade guard—like the ones used
in this case—likely would have cut him or herself and left DNA evidence at the scene.
However, in this case, the murderer apparently was not cut. While a minute amount of DNA
found on the knives belonged to neither the victim nor defendant, Dr. Reich acknowledged the
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presence of the third-party DNA could have resulted from contamination after the murder. The
knives were stored for 15 years in an open box with other evidence.
¶ 38 As to the palm print on the pool cue stick and whether the print was in blood or
some other substance, defendant’s expert, Michele Triplett, did not testify the palm print did not
belong to defendant. Defense counsel never asked Triplett this question. Triplett did testify the
print was suitable for comparison and appeared to be a “put-down” palm print, which was
consistent with the State’s evidence. As to whether the palm print was left in blood or some
other substance, the State’s evidence at defendant’s trial noted the substance was never
scientifically tested to avoid compromising the latent print. However, a similarly colored
substance from another part of the pool cue was tested and determined to be blood. The jury at
defendant’s trial would have inferred testimony the palm print was in blood was based on the
non-scientific observations of the witnesses at trial.
¶ 39 Defendant also notes at a new trial he could argue the palm print was left on the
pool cue in a substance other than blood before the murder while defendant was at the tavern.
However, while defendant could point out the substance the print was in was not scientifically
determined to be blood, the State could inform the jurors the pool cue was recovered near wet
blood and the print appeared to be in blood. Further, a similar looking substance on the pool cue
was determined to be blood through scientific testing.
¶ 40 Further, the new evidence did not affect the shoeprint evidence in this case. As
discussed in our prior opinion, the police discovered a bloody shoeprint at the murder scene. The
size and type of defendant’s shoe matched the shoe print although the wear pattern was not a
match. However, defendant admitted to the police he had recently thrown away a pair of the
same style shoes. Whalen, 2020 IL App (4th) 190171, ¶¶ 12-13. Finally, the new evidence in
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this case does not hamper the State’s motive evidence, which we discussed earlier.
¶ 41 Based on the new evidence and the prior trial evidence, the circuit court did not
err in determining it was not probable a retrial would lead to a different result in this case.
¶ 42 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 43 For the reasons stated, we affirm the circuit court’s denial of defendant’s section
2-1401 petition for relief from judgment.
¶ 44 Affirmed.
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