Dispute over teen's role in murders hits new court

DETROIT (AP) -- The Michigan appeals court is being asked to intervene in a Detroit teenager's quest to erase his guilty pleas to four fatal shootings. Hit man Vincent Smothers confessed to the 2007 killings but was never charged. He's willing to let his former attorney say that young Davontae Sanford had no role. But a judge won't let Gabi Silver testify. Sanford's lawyer filed papers last Thursday asking the appeals court to step in. Kim McGinnis says the testimony is critical as she tries to show that Sanford didn't commit the four murders, even though he pleaded guilty at age 15. Prosecutors oppose testimony from the hit man's lawyer. They say it's unfair because Smothers wouldn't be available for cross-examination. He's in prison and refuses to speak in court. Published: Mon, Aug 8, 2011