KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News-Mack wants new Reno trial in wife's murder
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Associated Press - March 1, 2010 5:14 PM ET
RENO, Nev. (AP) - Lawyers for Darren Mack say the former Reno pawnshop owner who pleaded guilty to murdering his wife deserves a new trial because his original lawyers failed to explain defense strategies that might have gotten him a better deal.
Mack is serving 36 years to life for the June 2006 killing of Charla Mack and the sniper-style shooting of their divorce judge.
Defense attorney Mark Topel told the Nevada Supreme Court Monday that the trial judge was wrong to refuse to allow Mack to withdraw his guilty pleas to charges of first-degree and attempted murder.
Topel says the earlier lawyers did not explore with Mack the possibility of him admitting to second-degree murder or manslaughter given that there was evidence his wife had abused him.
Special prosecutor Christopher Lalli says Mack entered the plea deal intelligently and voluntarily.
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