McAtasney pleaded not guilty today to murder and six other charges.
Defense attorney Charles Moriarty entered the not-guilty plea on behalf of his client.
http://www.app.com/story/news/local...r-liam-mcatasney-pleads-not-guilty/322341001/
Just as expected. This case just burns me to no end.
From the article:
"Sarah Stern’s accused killer insists he did nothing wrong and will go to trial in a case that exposes him to life in prison without the possibility of parole, his attorney said today.
...
Meghan Doyle, an assistant Monmouth County prosecutor, said
the only plea offer extended to McAtasney at this time is for him to plead guilty to all seven crimes he is charged with in exchange for a recommendation that he be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
'
That makes life easy,' Moriarty said of the offer, after the arraignment. '
What can you do but try the case?
'I don't think anything can be worked out in this case because
he still maintains he did nothing wrong,'
Moriarty said of his client.
English scheduled an initial conference in the case for July 10.
...
McAtasney was indicted on seven charges on April 24, the same day his onetime roommate, Preston Taylor, 19, of Neptune admitted his role in Stern’s demise and agreed to cooperate in McAtasney’s prosecution.
...
An aggravating factor contained in the indictment – that the murder was committed while in the course of a robbery or flight from one – enables prosecutors to seek life in prison without the possibility of parole for McAtasney if he is convicted of Stern’s murder.
...
Prosecutors said
they will recommend a 20-year prison term for Taylor and agreed not to pursue a felony murder charge if he fully cooperates in McAtasney’s prosecution." (BBM; more at the link)
In the video, the assistant prosecutor says there are discovery items still outstanding, and they are to be turned in by June 2nd, which makes me feel somewhat better. I'm just afraid that unless there is some sort of "bombshell" evidence, LM/Moriarty may be able to successfully argue that the plot was hatched and carried out by PT and PT alone. And I hope that LM's "confession video" doesn't get tossed out.
"'I don't think anything can be worked out in this case because
he still maintains he did nothing wrong,' Moriarty said of his client."
I don't doubt that at all. I'm sure LM believes he did nothing wrong - at least in his mind.
