Judge denies Moscow triple-murderer motion to withdraw plea

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A judge has denied a Moscow man’s motion to withdraw his plea after being sentenced to life in prison for a shooting spree three years ago that left three people dead and another injured.

John Lee received three life sentences for first-degree murder in connection with the January 2015 deaths of his adoptive mother, his landlord, and a restaurant manager.   Lee also received a sentence of 15 years for aggravated assault for shooting another man.

Lee initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, but changed it to an Alford plea, in which he maintained the shootings weren’t premeditated but acknowledged there was enough evidence to convict him.

In November, Lee appeared in Latah County’s 2nd District Court, saying he was psychologically coerced into accepting a plea agreement that spared him from the death penalty.  Lee’s motion to withdraw his plea is based on his mental state at the time he entered the plea, meaning court rules require him to waive attorney-client privilege.  His former attorney testified then that he had no doubt Lee committed the crimes, adding that he believed Lee clearly understood every aspect of the case against him.

Judge John Stegner on Tuesday denied Lee’s motion, in part because Lee failed to show his plea was not taken in compliance with constitutional due process standards.  Stegner also indicated the amount of evidence in the case was “overwhelming,” and noted eyewitnesses saw Lee commit two of the three murders and the aggravated battery. (Lewiston Tribune)

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