A man who pleaded guilty in the drug-related slayings of four people in northeastern Pennsylvania is seeking to reverse his conviction, saying he felt his lawyers pressured him into the plea.
The (Wilkes-Barre) Citizens' Voice reports that 21-year-old Shawn Hamilton told a Luzerne County judge Friday that he knew nothing about his defense.
Hamilton and his brother, Sawud Davis, pleaded guilty in the July 2012 murders of 21-year-old Bradley Swartwood, 17-year-old Nicholas Maldonado and 15-year-old Lisa Abaunza.
Prosecutors said the brothers planned a robbery during a drug deal and wanted to eliminate witnesses. Hamilton also pleaded guilty to having killed a fourth person in Wilkes-Barre the day before.
Hamilton's trial attorney testified that the defense had been prepared to go to trial if Hamilton wanted to do so.
Convicted of Murder, Man Says Lawyers Pressured Him to Plead Guilty
Copyright The Associated Press
