Court Opinion

ID: 9894757
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-02 19:05:50.51862+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:10:33.089657
License: Public Domain

2023 IL App (1st) 220364-U
                                Order filed: November 2, 2023

                                                                            FIRST DISTRICT
                                                                          FOURTH DIVISION

                                        No. 1-22-0364

NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the
limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).
______________________________________________________________________________

                                    IN THE
                        APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
                           FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,            )     Appeal from the
                                                )     Circuit Court of
      Plaintiff-Appellee,                       )     Cook County
                                                )
v.                                              )     No. 06 CR 1226901
                                                )
ANTHONY T. REYNOLDS,                            )     Honorable
                                                )     Geraldine D’Souza,
      Defendant-Appellant.                      )     Judge, presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

       PRESIDING JUSTICE ROCHFORD delivered the judgment of the court.
       Justices Hoffman and Martin concurred in the judgment.

                                           ORDER

¶1     Held: We reversed the denial of defendant’s motion for leave to file a successive
             postconviction petition and remanded for second-stage proceedings, finding that
             defendant made a colorable claim of actual innocence.

¶2     Defendant, Anthony T. Reynolds, appeals the denial of his motion for leave to file a

successive postconviction petition, which asserted a claim of actual innocence. We reverse and

remand for second-stage proceedings.

¶3     The State charged defendant with first-degree murder arising out of the fatal shooting of

Martel Edwards on April 28, 2006. On that night, Martel was at a car wash in South Holland,
No. 1-22-0364

Illinois, with David Dabbs, William Blasingame, Nathaniel Arnold, Stephen Henderson, and Deon

Maloney. Defendant arrived in an automobile with Raymond Lipscomb and Kendall Edwards.

¶4     Dabbs testified that defendant walked up to him, shook his hand and asked for “Willie,”

referencing William Mathers who had shot defendant about one year earlier. Dabbs replied that

Willie was not there. Martel approached and defendant shook his hand too. Lipscomb approached

a few seconds later and immediately began firing a gun in Dabbs’ and Martel’s direction. Dabbs

took cover and did not see defendant holding or firing a gun.

¶5     Blasingame testified that he saw defendant and Lipscomb arrive and then walk over to

Dabbs. Defendant shook Dabbs’ hand. Martel walked over to defendant, who shook his hand too.

Lipscomb and defendant then both fired multiple gunshots in the direction of Dabbs and Martel

before leaving the scene.

¶6     Arnold testified that he saw defendant speak first with Dabbs and then with Martel. Less

than a minute later, Lipscomb, who was standing nearby, fired a gun towards Dabbs and Martel.

Defendant also fired a gun one time in the direction of Dabbs and Martel. Arnold did not see

anyone else other than Lipscomb and defendant holding a gun. Arnold saw defendant and

Lipscomb leave the scene.

¶7     Henderson testified to seeing Dabbs talking with defendant. Martel began walking toward

them. Gunshots rang out and Henderson saw defendant and Lipscomb shooting Dabbs and Martel

before fleeing the scene.

¶8     Maloney testified that he saw Dabbs talking to defendant and Lipscomb while Martel

approached them. Defendant and Lipscomb then fired several shots in the direction of Martel and

Dabbs before leaving the scene.

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No. 1-22-0364

¶9     Officer Kevin Carter testified that he arrived at the scene, where Martel was lying on the

ground with blood on his torso. People were milling around him, complaining that the ambulance

was slow in arriving. Eventually, some persons put Martel in a vehicle and drove him to the

hospital, where he died.

¶ 10   Doctor Clare Cunliffe testified she performed the autopsy on Martel. She determined that

the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was homicide.

¶ 11   Detective Chris Lareau testified that he arrested defendant at a vacant house in Robbins, a

nearby suburb, on May 2, 2006.

¶ 12   Defendant testified that he was with Kendall and Lipscomb in Kendall’s automobile when

they passed the car wash and noticed Dabbs and Blasingame. Defendant explained that there had

been an altercation and tension between a faction of people on the east side of Harvey, where

Dabbs and Blasingame lived, and the west side where defendant lived. Defendant wanted to

squelch any animosity with Dabbs so they pulled over at the car wash. Defendant walked over to

Dabbs, shook his hand, and they engaged in a brief conversation about ending the conflict between

the east-side and west-side of Harvey.

¶ 13   Dabbs suddenly shouted, “Hey, check it out.” Defendant saw Martel approaching quickly

with his hand on a gun on his hip. Defendant believed Martel was going to shoot him. However,

defendant could not draw his own gun, a .40 caliber pistol, because he and Dabbs were still locked

in a handshake; he believed that Dabbs did this to keep him from drawing his gun. Defendant then

heard gunshots nearby. Defendant pulled his hand away from Dabbs and began to flee. As he ran,

defendant fired his gun in the direction of the shooter, to discourage his attackers from firing more

shots. Defendant jumped in Kendall’s automobile. Lipscomb then entered the vehicle, which

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No. 1-22-0364

surprised defendant, as he did not know that Lipscomb had left the automobile. They fled the

scene.

¶ 14     On cross-examination, the State asked defendant a series of questions about statements he

made to police soon after his arrest. Defendant testified that he did not tell the police that he was

with Lipscomb and Kendall on the night of the shooting or that he saw Martel holding a gun.

Defendant may have told the police that a man nicknamed Little Mo fired two guns at Martel and

Dabbs. Little Mo was Lipscomb’s nickname. On redirect-examination, defendant testified that he

did not provide police with Lipscomb’s real name because “[t]he man just saved my life.”

¶ 15     Defense counsel informed the court, outside the presence of the jury, that they could not

present Lipscomb’s testimony because his attorney informed the defense that Lipscomb would

assert his fifth amendment right to remain silent.

¶ 16     The trial court instructed the jury on intentional murder (720 ILCS 5/9-1(a)(1) (West

2008)), knowing murder (id. § 9-1(a)(2)), and on felony murder (id. § 9-1(a)(3)) predicated on the

underlying felony of aggravated discharge of a firearm. The jury convicted defendant of

intentional/knowing murder, finding him legally accountable for Lipscomb’s shooting and killing

of Martel. The jury also convicted defendant of felony murder, predicated on the underlying felony

of aggravated discharge of a firearm. The trial court merged the felony murder conviction into the

intentional/knowing murder conviction and sentenced defendant to a total of 60 years’

imprisonment. On direct appeal, this court affirmed. See People v. Reynolds, 2012 IL App (1st)

092625-U.

¶ 17     In 2013, defendant filed an amended postconviction petition alleging that his trial counsel

provided ineffective assistance by failing to call Kendall, Jonathan Phillips, and Patrick Taylor to

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No. 1-22-0364

testify at trial. In support, defendant submitted affidavits from Kendall, Taylor, and from private

investigator William Pederson.

¶ 18   Kendall stated that on the night of the murder, he was riding in an automobile with

defendant and Lipscomb. They stopped at a car wash so that defendant could speak with Dabbs

about ending the violence between two rival groups in the area. Defendant and Lipscomb exited

the vehicle. Defendant approached Dabbs, who was standing with a group of men; Lipscomb went

to the rear of the automobile. Defendant and Dabbs shook hands, after which two men came out

from behind another vehicle with guns in their hands. Kendall heard shots coming from behind his

automobile and saw defendant drop to his knees, pull a weapon, and fire one time to his rear.

Defendant crawled back to Kendall’s automobile and Lipscomb jumped into the back seat.

Defendant drove off.

¶ 19   Pederson stated that in his capacity as a private investigator working for defendant’s

attorney, he conducted a March 2013 phone interview with Phillips. Phillips said that on the night

of the murder, he was at the car wash when he saw defendant drive up with two men. Defendant

and one of the other men exited the vehicle. Defendant walked over to Dabbs, who turned his head

in the direction of another vehicle and “said something.” Two men with handguns exited that

vehicle and shots were fired. Defendant crouched down, crawled back to his automobile, and drove

away. Phillips never observed defendant shooting a gun.

¶ 20   Taylor stated that on the night of the murder, he was at the car wash and saw defendant

drive up with two other men. Defendant and one of the other men exited their automobile.

Defendant went over to Dabbs and shook his hand, while the other man stood nearby drinking

from a white cup. Dabbs yelled, and then Martell and a man named Shabba exited a different

vehicle. Martell and Shabba each displayed a gun. Martell put his gun in his front waistband as he
                                                -5-
No. 1-22-0364

approached defendant; Shabba “hung back.” The man who had been drinking from the white cup

then pulled a gun and “came up shooting.” Defendant ran away back to his automobile; as he ran

he fired his own gun once or twice over his back.

¶ 21   The postconviction court dismissed defendant’s petition at the second stage.

¶ 22   In July 2017, defendant filed a pro se motion for leave to file a successive postconviction

petition, claiming actual innocence based on newly discovered evidence from Lipscomb and

Ramirez Taylor. Defendant submitted an affidavit from Lipscomb, who stated that he, defendant,

and defendant’s cousin drove to the car wash so that defendant could speak with Dabbs. Defendant

exited the vehicle and approached Dabbs, while Lipscomb also exited and stood next to the trunk

of the automobile. Dabbs suddenly yelled, “Check it out,” and then two men with guns exited a

different vehicle. One of the men put his gun in his waistband and quickly approached defendant.

As he reached defendant, the man began pulling his gun out of the waistband. A few months before

this incident, defendant had been shot and Lipscomb was concerned that defendant was about to

be shot again in the car wash. Therefore, Lipscomb opened fire on the man approaching defendant

with the gun. After Lipscomb fired his weapon, defendant ran toward the automobile while also

shooting one or two shots over his shoulder. Defendant and Lipscomb jumped in the automobile

and drove away.

¶ 23   Lipscomb further stated that he did not testify at defendant’s trial because he also was on

trial for the murder and his attorney advised him not to talk until his own trial was over. Lipscomb

subsequently was acquitted but “other legal matters” prevented him from talking until now.

¶ 24   Ramirez stated that he was at the car wash when he saw Martell walking toward defendant

with a gun in his hand. Ramirez called out to defendant to warn him. Lipscomb then shot at Martell.

Ramirez turned and ran away; as he ran he heard more gunshots. Later that night, Lipscomb
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No. 1-22-0364

brought defendant over to Ramirez’s house. Following defendant’s arrest, Ramirez told his

attorney that he was willing to testify on defendant’s behalf. Ramirez’s attorney advised him to

“keep quiet” and “deal with [his] case first.”

¶ 25   The postconviction court denied defendant’s motion for leave to file his successive petition.

Defendant appeals.

¶ 26   The Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122-1 et seq. (West 2020)) provides

a three-stage procedure for criminal defendants to raise constitutional issues about their trial or

sentencing that could not have been raised on direct appeal. People v. Morales, 2019 IL App (1st)

160225, ¶ 17. At the first stage, the postconviction court evaluates the petition and determines

whether it is frivolous or patently without merit. Id. If the court determines that the petition is not

frivolous or patently without merit, it is docketed for second-stage proceedings, during which

counsel can be retained or appointed, and defendant must make a substantial showing of a

constitutional violation. Id. If the petition makes a substantial showing of a constitutional violation,

it advances to the third-stage evidentiary hearing where the postconviction court receives evidence

and determines whether defendant is entitled to relief. 725 ILCS 5/122-6 (West 2020).

¶ 27   The Act provides that only one postconviction petition may be filed without leave of court.

725 ILCS 5/122-1(f)(West 2022). Where leave to file is granted, the successive petition is docketed

for second-stage proceedings. People v. Robinson, 2020 IL 123849, ¶ 43

¶ 28   Leave to file a successive petition will be granted under two circumstances. The first basis

for relaxing the bar against successive petitions is when defendant establishes cause and prejudice

for failing to raise the claim earlier. People v. Edwards, 2012 IL 111711, ¶ 22. The cause-and-

prejudice test is now codified in the Act. 725 ILCS 5/122-1(f) (West 2022). The second basis is

when defendant presents a colorable claim of actual innocence. Edwards, 2012 IL 111711, ¶ 23.
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No. 1-22-0364

¶ 29   To establish a colorable claim of actual innocence, defendant must present newly

discovered, material, noncumulative evidence that is so conclusive that it probably would change

the result on retrial. Robinson, 2020 IL 123849, ¶ 47. Newly discovered evidence is evidence that

was discovered after trial and that defendant could not have discovered earlier through the exercise

of due diligence. Id. Evidence is material when it is relevant and probative of defendant’s

innocence. Id. Noncumulative evidence adds to the information that the jury heard at trial. Id.

Finally, the conclusive character element requires defendant to present evidence placing the trial

evidence in a different light and undermining the court’s confidence in the judgment of guilt. Id. ¶

56. New evidence is conclusive when, after considering it along with the trial evidence, a different

result probably would occur. Id. ¶ 47. “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.” Id. ¶ 48.

¶ 30   We review de novo the postconviction court’s denial of leave to file a successive petition

asserting actual innocence. People v. Beard, 2023 IL App (1st) 200106, ¶ 37. In our review, we

take all well-pleaded allegations in the petition and supporting affidavits as true unless they are

positively rebutted by the record. Robinson, 2020 IL 123849, ¶ 45.

¶ 31   Defendant argues in his appellant’s brief that the postconviction court erred in denying him

leave to file a successive petition because he established a colorable claim of actual innocence to

the charge of intentional/knowing murder based on the new evidence provided by Lipscomb and

Ramirez. Defendant makes no argument in his appellant’s brief as to his actual innocence for

felony murder, explaining that because the felony murder conviction was merged with the

intentional/knowing murder count, he was “limit[ing] his analysis to the effect the new evidence

will have on the intentional murder conviction.”
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No. 1-22-0364

¶ 32   In response, the State cites Buckner v. Polk, 453 F. 3d 195 (4th Cir. 2006), which held that

when claiming actual innocence, defendant must show his innocence of all theories of murder for

which he was convicted. As defendant here was convicted of felony murder along with

intentional/knowing murder, the State contends that defendant is required to make a colorable

claim of actual innocence of felony murder in order to relax the bar against successive petitions.

The State argues that defendant’s failure to make any such arguments in his appellant’s brief

regarding his actual innocence of felony murder constitutes a waiver and requires us to affirm his

murder conviction.

¶ 33   Waiver is the intentional relinquishment of a known right. People v. Sophanavong, 2020

IL 124337, ¶ 20. Here, defendant explained that he made no argument regarding his actual

innocence of felony murder because, on direct appeal, we held that his conviction of felony murder

was not appealable as no final sentence or judgment was entered on that count. See Reynolds, 2012

IL App (1st) 092625-U, ¶ 44. Based on our holding on direct appeal, defendant apparently believed

in this appeal from denial of leave to file a successive petition that he only was required to show a

colorable claim of actual innocence for intentional/knowing murder and was not required to make

a similar showing of actual innocence for felony murder. Defendant was incorrect because, as we

have discussed, he was required to show a colorable claim of actual innocence for all theories of

murder for which he was actually convicted, including felony murder. As defendant clearly was

mistaken regarding the showing required, and he did not intentionally relinquish his known right

to argue for actual innocence of felony murder, we find no waiver.

¶ 34   We note that the State makes no argument that defendant forfeited his right to argue for

absolute innocence of felony murder. Unlike waiver, which focuses on defendant’s intent to

relinquish a known right, forfeiture results when defendant fails to timely assert his rights,
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No. 1-22-0364

regardless of his knowledge thereof or his intent. People v. Lesley, 2018 IL 122100, ¶ 37. The

doctrine of forfeiture applies to the State as well as to defendant, and thus the State forfeited its

right to argue defendant’s forfeiture. Sophanavong, 2020 IL 124337, ¶ 21. Even addressing the

issue of defendant’s forfeiture, we note that Illinois Supreme Court Rule 341(j) (eff. Oct. 1, 2020)

permits appellants to reply to arguments presented in the brief of the appellee. In his reply brief,

defendant argues his actual innocence of felony murder. We will address the issue instead of

deeming it forfeited. See e.g., Chamberlain v. Civil Service Comm’n of Village of Gurnee, 2014

IL App (2d) 121251, ¶ 31 (addressing a due process argument raised for the first time in the reply

brief). See also People v. Accardo, 139 Ill. App. 3d 813, 816-17 (1985) (issues first raised in a

reply brief may be addressed if necessary to ensure a just result).

¶ 35   We proceed to examine defendant’s claim of actual innocence of intentional/knowing and

felony murder premised on Ramirez’s and Lipscomb’s affidavits. The State contends that

Ramirez’s affidavit does not support a colorable claim of actual innocence because it is not newly

discovered. We agree. In his own supporting affidavit, defendant states that he was aware of

Ramirez’s proposed testimony as early as 2006, three years prior to trial, and so informed his

defense counsel. Defendant provides no evidence that any effort was made to procure Ramirez’s

testimony or determine his availability or willingness to testify. On appeal, defendant posits that

Ramirez “faced charges related to the incident” and could have asserted his fifth amendment right

not to testify, thereby rendering him unavailable until he came forward with his affidavit. However,

there is no evidence that Ramirez ever was charged in connection with Martel’s murder or that he

was planning on asserting his fifth amendment right if called to testify. Ramirez only averred that

he stayed silent on advice of counsel. Defendant made no attempt to subpoena Ramirez and gives

no explanation for why a subpoena was not issued. On these facts, Ramirez’s affidavit does not
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No. 1-22-0364

constitute newly discovered evidence. See Edwards, 2012 IL 111711, ¶¶ 34-37 (evidence not

newly discovered where the witnesses were known and could have been subpoenaed).

¶ 36   The State also contends that Lipscomb’s affidavit does not support a colorable claim of

actual innocence because it is not newly discovered. We disagree. Lipscomb was a codefendant

and no amount of diligence could have forced him to waive his fifth amendment rights and testify

at defendant’s trial. As such, Lipscomb’s affidavit, in which he states for the first time post-trial

that he is willing to testify on defendant’s behalf, constitutes newly discovered evidence. Id. ¶ 38

(evidence in affidavit was newly discovered where the affiant was a codefendant with a fifth

amendment right to avoid self-incrimination); Beard, 2023 IL App (1st) 200106, ¶ 50 (same).

¶ 37   The State notes, though, that defendant’s trial was conducted in 2009 and that Lipscomb

was tried and acquitted three years later in 2012. Lipscomb’s acquittal rendered his testimony

available to defendant for postconviction purposes because Lipscomb no longer was in danger of

self-incrimination for purposes of the fifth amendment. Although Lipscomb was available to

testify following his acquittal in 2012, defendant did not submit Lipscomb’s affidavit for another

five years, until 2017, when he moved for leave to file a successive petition. The State argues that

defendant’s five-year delay in procuring Lipscomb’s affidavit shows a lack of due diligence, post-

trial, in discovering his testimony, and as such, that Lipscomb’s affidavit cannot now be considered

newly discovered evidence in support of a claim of actual innocence. The State’s argument fails

because our consideration is limited to determining whether evidence was discoverable prior to

trial. See Beard, 2023 IL App (1st) 200106, ¶¶ 40-49. As we have discussed, Lipscomb’s testimony

was not available prior to trial because he was a codefendant with the fifth amendment right not to

testify, and he had not yet been acquitted.

                                                -11-
No. 1-22-0364

¶ 38   Next, the State argues that Lipscomb’s affidavit is immaterial. We disagree. Initially, in

analyzing the State’s argument, it is important to recognize that defendant was convicted of murder

based on his accountability for Lipscomb’s shooting of Martel. Under Illinois law, no distinction

is drawn between the perpetrator of the offense and one who is accountable for his conduct. People

v. Jones, 2016 IL App (1st) 141008, ¶ 34. The accountable defendant stands in the shoes of the

perpetrator (People v. Brown, 197 Ill. App. 3d 907, 919 (1990)) meaning, for purposes of the

present case, that where the perpetrator (Lipscomb) asserts self-defense or defense of others, the

one who is accountable (defendant) may similarly assert the same claim. Jones, 2016 IL App (1st)

141008, ¶ 34.

¶ 39   To show that Lipscomb acted in self-defense or defense of others, defendant must show

that unlawful force was threatened against Lipscomb or others; Lipscomb was not the aggressor;

the danger of harm was imminent; the use of force was necessary; Lipscomb subjectively believed

a danger existed requiring the use of force; and Lipscomb’s belief was objectively reasonable.

People v. Taylor, 2016 IL App (1st) 141251, ¶ 11.

¶ 40   With this backdrop in mind, Lipscomb’s affidavit (taken as true here) was clearly material

to defendant’s claim of self-defense/defense of others, as it asserted all the requisite elements,

specifically: that Martel was rapidly approaching defendant at the car wash while withdrawing a

gun from his waistband; neither defendant nor Lipscomb were the aggressors; the danger of harm

was imminent; the use of force was necessary; Lipscomb subjectively believed a danger existed to

defendant requiring the use of force applied; and Lipscomb’s belief was objectively reasonable.

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No. 1-22-0364

¶ 41     The State argues that Lipscomb’s affidavit does not show that Martel threatened imminent

force against defendant and it cites People v. Smith, 2021 IL App (1st) 181178-U1, in support. In

Smith, the petitioner appealed the summary dismissal of his petition, arguing that his trial counsel

was ineffective for failing to call witnesses who would have supported his claim of self-defense.

Id. ¶¶ 24, 30. In affirming, we noted that the proposed witnesses did not state that the petitioner

saw a gun or knew that the victim was armed and, thus, their testimony would not even arguably

establish self-defense because there was no showing that unlawful force was threatened against

the petitioner and that the danger of harm was imminent. Id. ¶ 32.

¶ 42     By contrast, in the present case, Lipscomb states that he saw Martel reaching for a gun

while rapidly approaching defendant and that Lipscomb thought Martel was going to shoot

defendant. Taken as true, Lipscomb’s affidavit makes the requisite showing of the threat of

unlawful force and imminent danger of harm.

¶ 43     The State argues that Lipscomb’s affidavit is not material because his assertion that he shot

Martel to prevent him from shooting defendant only supports a colorable claim of actual innocence

of intentional/knowing murder but does not support a colorable claim of actual innocence of felony

murder. In support, the State notes that on direct appeal in this case, we stated that “[t]he law in

Illinois clearly establishes that self-defense may not be used by a defendant to defend against a

charge of felony murder.” Reynolds, 2012 IL App (1st) 092625-U, ¶ 36. The State contends that

our determination, on direct appeal, that self-defense is not applicable to the charge of felony

murder is the law of the case and cannot be relitigated.

1
 Rule 23(e) states that “a nonprecedential order entered under subpart (b) of this rule on or after January 1, 2021, may
be cited for persuasive purposes.” Ill. S. Ct. R. 23(e) (eff. Feb. 1, 2023).
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No. 1-22-0364

¶ 44   The law of the case doctrine bars relitigation of an issue already decided in the same case.

People v. Tenner, 206 Ill. 2d 381, 395 (2002). On direct appeal, the issue we decided was whether

the trial court should have given the offered instruction on self-defense and defense of others.

Reynolds, 2012 IL App (1st) 092625-U, ¶ 31. We held that the court committed no abuse of

discretion in refusing to give the instruction, as there was no evidence at trial in support thereof

and the instruction was confusing as it combined the concepts of accountability and self-defense

into the felony murder instruction. Id. ¶¶ 34-36. It was in the context of discussing the alleged

instructional error that we made the statement that the trial court committed no abuse of discretion

because self-defense is not a defense to felony murder. Id. ¶ 36.

¶ 45   Whereas the direct appeal concerned alleged instructional error at trial, the present appeal

involves whether defendant made a colorable postconviction claim of actual innocence. The issues

in the direct appeal and here on appeal from denial of leave to file a successive petition are not the

same and accordingly the law of the case doctrine does not apply.

¶ 46   Moreover, we note that while our statement on direct appeal regarding how self-defense is

not a defense to felony murder is generally true, there is an exception where the belief in the need

for self-defense and/or defense of others occurred before defendant formed the intent to commit

the underlying felony. People v. Walker, 392 Ill. App. 3d 277, 287-88 (2009). In those instances,

self-defense and defense of others is available to defendant. Id. In this case, Lipscomb’s affidavit,

taken as true, shows that his belief in the need to shoot Martel to keep him from shooting defendant

occurred before defendant formed an intent to commit the underlying felony of aggravated

discharge of a firearm. As such, Lipscomb’s affidavit is material to defendant’s guilt or innocence

of felony murder.

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No. 1-22-0364

¶ 47   The State further argues that Lipscomb’s affidavit is not material because it raises a defense

of others, which is an affirmative defense addressing only defendant’s legal innocence and not the

factual innocence he is required to show in support of his actual innocence claim. We disagree.

Defendant is not challenging the verdict against him based on a trial court error or constitutional

violation, rather he is challenging the factual evidence to support his conviction. Accordingly, we

reject the State’s argument that the defense of others cannot form the basis of an actual innocence

claim. See People v. Williams, 2021 IL App (1st) 190239, ¶ 43 (citing cases recognizing the

viability of an actual innocence claim based on newly discovered evidence in support of an

affirmative defense, including evidence of self-defense and compulsion); People v. Horton, 2021

IL App (1st) 180551, ¶ 46 (self-defense may serve as the basis of an actual innocence claim).

¶ 48   The State contends that Lipscomb’s affidavit is not material because it fails to show

defendant’s innocence for aggravated discharge of a firearm, the underlying offense for his felony

murder conviction. In support, the State cites Horton, 2021 IL App (1st) 180551, which held that

an actual innocence claim does not encompass a situation where the newly discovered evidence

exonerates defendant of first-degree murder but establishes his guilt of second-degree murder,

because actual innocence requires that defendant be “free of liability both for the crime of

conviction and for any related offenses.” Id. ¶ 46. Pursuant to Horton, the State argues that

defendant is required to show his actual innocence here not only of felony murder, but also of the

related, lesser-included offense of aggravated discharge of a firearm. See People v. Bailey, 2013

IL 113690, ¶ 17 (the predicate offense underlying a charge of felony murder is a lesser-included

offense of the murder).

¶ 49   Defendant replies that, counter to the State’s argument, Lipscomb’s affidavit makes a

colorable claim of defendant’s actual innocence of aggravated discharge of a firearm. We agree,
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No. 1-22-0364

as Lipscomb’s affidavit, taken as true, shows that defendant fired his weapon in self-defense,

thereby exonerating him of the offense of aggravated discharge of a firearm and serving as the

basis of an actual innocence claim. See People v. O’Neal, 2016 IL App (1st) 132284, ¶ 80 (self-

defense “would completely exonerate defendant of the offense of aggravated discharge of a

firearm”). Accordingly, we reject the State’s arguments that Lipscomb’s affidavit is immaterial to

defendant’s innocence.

¶ 50   Next, the State argues that Lipscomb’s affidavit is cumulative. We disagree. Lipscomb’s

affidavit is not cumulative as it corroborates defendant’s testimony that Martel was rapidly

approaching him with a gun prior to the shooting and conflicts with the State’s witnesses who

testified to seeing Lipscomb shoot at Martel without any justification. No other witness at trial

provided such corroborating testimony. See e.g., People v. Willingham, 2020 IL App (1st) 162250,

¶ 27 (new evidence corroborating defendant’s testimony that he acted in self-defense, and

conflicting with State’s witnesses who testified that the shooting was unjustified, was material and

noncumulative).

¶ 51   Next, the State argues that Lipscomb’s affidavit is not so conclusive as to probably lead to

a different result given the evidence it presented at trial of defendant’s guilt. The State’s evidence

included: the testimony of Dabbs, Blasingame, Arnold, Henderson, and Maloney that the shooting

was unjustified; Arnold’s testimony that Dabbs was unarmed; and defendant’s failure to initially

tell the police that Dabbs was armed and that defendant and Lipscomb acted in self-defense. The

State contends that in light of all this evidence of defendant’s guilt presented at trial, Lipscomb’s

conflicting affidavit is not enough to show a probability that a retrial would lead to an acquittal.

¶ 52   Robinson, 2020 IL 123849, is informative. In Robinson, the petitioner appealed from an

order denying him leave to file a successive postconviction petition alleging actual innocence
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No. 1-22-0364

based on newly discovered evidence. Id. ¶ 1. The appellate court affirmed. Id. The supreme court

noted that the appellate court erred by premising its decision on a “conflicting evidence” standard,

i.e., the appellate court held that the evidence in petitioner’s supporting affidavits did not satisfy

the conclusive character element because it merely conflicted with the evidence at trial. Id. ¶ 57.

The supreme court stated:

                “Although this court has occasionally made reference to the insufficiency of new

       evidence that conflicts with trial evidence, we have not done so where the relevant inquiry

       involved a request for leave to file a successive petition based on actual innocence. Rather,

       those ‘conflicting evidence’ references were made in cases that decided whether a petition

       should advance to a third-stage evidentiary hearing [citation] or whether a new trial should

       be granted following such a hearing [citations].” Id. ¶ 58.

¶ 53   The supreme court differentiated an earlier case, People v. Sanders, 2016 IL 118123.

Sanders involved the second-stage dismissal of a successive postconviction petition. Id. ¶ 1.

Sanders held that the new evidence presented there did not make a substantial showing of actual

innocence because the new evidence merely added conflicting evidence to the evidence adduced

at trial and was not so conclusive as to change the result. Id. ¶¶ 52-55. Sanders also was premised

on the fact that some of the new evidence—an assertion that the victim only had been shot once—

was positively rebutted by the autopsy evidence at trial showing that the victim had been shot

multiple times. Id. ¶ 52. The Robinson court held that Sanders was inapposite because “[t]he

substantial showing required to avoid dismissal at the second stage is greater than the standard that

must be satisfied to obtain leave to file a successive petition.” Robinson, 2020 IL 123849, ¶ 43.

Robinson further held:

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No. 1-22-0364

                “For new evidence to be positively rebutted, it must be clear from the trial record

       that no fact finder could ever accept the truth of that evidence, such as where it is

       affirmatively and incontestably demonstrated to be false or impossible—like the single-

       gunshot evidence in Sanders. We now clarify that the inquiry applicable at the leave-to-

       file stage of successive proceedings does not focus on whether the new evidence is

       inconsistent with the evidence presented at trial. Rather, the well-pleaded allegations in the

       petition and supporting documents will be accepted as true unless it is affirmatively

       demonstrated by the record that a trier of fact could never accept their veracity. In assessing

       whether a petitioner has satisfied the low threshold applicable to a colorable claim of actual

       innocence, the court considers only whether the new evidence, if believed and not

       positively rebutted by the record, could lead to acquittal on retrial.” Id. ¶ 60.

¶ 54   In the instant case, Lipscomb’s affidavit asserts that defendant is actually innocent because

Lipscomb (for whom defendant is accountable) shot and killed Martel to prevent Martel from

killing defendant. Although Lipscomb’s affidavit is contradicted by the trial testimony of the

State’s witnesses, a conflict with the trial evidence is not the same as finding that the new affidavit

is positively rebutted. Id. As discussed, to be positively rebutted, the new affidavit must be

affirmatively and incontestably demonstrated to be false or impossible such that no juror could

accept it as true. Id. No such showing has been made here and thus Lipscomb’s affidavit must be

accepted as true, thereby foreclosing us from engaging in any credibility determinations (id. ¶45)

and leaving us with a conflict in the evidence as to whether defendant was innocent. Lipscomb’s

affidavit, taken as true at the leave-to-file stage, satisfies the conclusive character element as it

places the trial evidence in a different light, undermines this court’s confidence in the judgment of

guilt, and constitutes a substantial showing of actual innocence necessitating further proceedings
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No. 1-22-0364

with counsel. Id. ¶ 73 (a new affidavit asserting petitioner’s actual innocence that conflicted with,

but was not positively rebutted by, the State’s witnesses, constituted “reason to allow petitioner to

proceed, with counsel, on his colorable claim of actual innocence”).

¶ 55   For all the foregoing reasons, we reverse the denial of defendant’s motion for leave to file

a successive petition and remand for the appointment of counsel and second-stage proceedings.

¶ 56   Reversed and remanded.

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