Murder suspect looks to withdraw plea

Brandon Clark, the man accused of killing Bianca Devins last year, wants to withdraw his guilty plea.

Sunday.....now wants to take back that plea.

Brandon clark made a brief appearance in oneida county court this morning.

Newschannel 2's joleen ferris joins us live in the studio to tell us what happened.

Joleen?

Brandon clark pleaded guilty to bianca devins' murder back on february 10th.

He was supposed to be sentenced april 6th.

But courts closed down because of the coronavirus.

Today, oneida county court judge, michael dwyer, said he'd received a pre- printed form from clark on june 2nd, saying he wanted to withdraw his plea.

The judge said there was no information in the request and if he had to rule on it today, he'd deny clark's request and move forward with sentencing.

The judge said he would consider a legal motion with facts and law.

And brandon clark said he did want the opportunity to make such a motion, but wanted a new attorney to do it.

The judge said he will assign clark a new attorney and that attorney could make a motion to withdraw clark's plea if they so choose.

Bianca devins' family was in court, wearing pink shirts in her honor.

They're not happy about the prospect of sitting through a difficult and very graphic trial.

But say they will be there for bianca.

10:41 "we're hopeful that this will not result in him getting a full trial.

If he somehow does get that from his court, we are preprared to represent bianca each and every day and remind him of the beautiful life he took from us, from her friends, from this community" 11:07 the judge did remind clark that he told him multiple times, back in february, that the guilty plea was permanent.

But he said today he would entertain a legal request to withdraw it.

Clark claims his defense attorney pressured him into pleading guilty.

Next, there could be a fact-finding hearing for the judge to decide on the plea withdrawal.

The judge said clark might be brought back in court as early as next week to formally be assigned a new attorney.

Back to you.

Two kids and