An eastern Pennsylvania man sentenced to life in prison in the slaying and dismemberment of his girlfriend two years ago wants a judge to allow him to withdraw his plea of guilty but mentally ill.
WFMZ-TV says a hearing is scheduled Tuesday on the request by 47-year-old William Ward.
He entered the plea to a first-degree murder charge last fall in the June 2011 slaying of 29-year-old Trisha Sadler.
Ward said in court documents that his attorney should have introduced psychiatric evidence indicating that he lacked the required intent to kill.
Police arrested Ward after a five-hour standoff at the Bethlehem home where he lived with Sadler, his girlfriend of nine years. Authorities said her remains were found in plastic bags in the home.
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