He was 17 when his attorney tried to get him to make a plea deal. He refused because he hadn't done anything. She then told him he could take the five years in jail for a "no contest" please or face 40 to life. She told him he had to decide right then and couldn't even call his mother first.
His lawyer was scum who didn't want to go to trial and she won't discuss the case with anyone.
The one reason I don’t like plea deals is for cases like this (and many others I am sure). Both attorneys... the defense and prosecution essentially “win” a case. They prop up their win portfolio on the backs of the innocent. My oldest will be 17 pretty soon... I can’t imagine him facing “plead no contest and serve 5 or cling to your innocence and do 40”. A grown man would have difficulty with that type of decision much less a teenager.
I hope his then lawyer (now judge) is ruined on a professional basis. I read a short article that said there was interest in a book or movie deal. Good! Sometimes bad cases like this can bring some light on a dark subject IMHO.