- Posted July 19, 2013
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Handyman says guilty plea to murder will stick
DETROIT (AP) -- A handyman who said he was coerced into strangling a suburban Detroit woman says he'll stick by his guilty plea.
Joseph Gentz was transported to the Wayne County courthouse after telling a judge that he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea to second-degree murder. But within minutes and after a reprimand, he changed his mind Wednesday and was returned to prison.
Judge Vonda Evans told Gentz, "This is not a game."
The 49-year-old Gentz has admitted killing Jane Bashara at her Grosse Pointe Park home in 2012. He says he was forced to do it by Bashara's husband, Robert Bashara.
Gentz is considered to be a key witness in the murder case against Bashara, who's awaiting a hearing to determine if there's enough evidence for a trial.
Published: Fri, Jul 19, 2013
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