Question:
A friend is facing 20 yrs for negligent homicide. He was facing the death penalty in the beginning, and was told by family members to confess to get a lesser sentence. He did, but maintains he is innocent. Even though he pled, they didn't give him the sentence they had promised. He says he did not do this, and I believe him partially because when I talked to another family member they said they had told him to confess, because the couldn't take the police coming around asking them questions. I have known him for a long time, and can't see him hurting anyone let alone his own family. Please I need help finding someone to help him. The least he deserves is a decent attorney. Oh and another thing is, if I remember correctly, while the police were questioning him he asked for an attorney, they continues questioning him without one. Please help. Thanks in advance.
Answer:
They let him enter a plea without giving him assistance of counsel? If so, and if he didn't waive the right to legal representation, that could create grounds for an appeal. Louisiana has a civil law system, which is slightly different from the common law systems that all the other states have, but I don't think that would make a difference. He is entitled to a lawyer, for free if he can't afford one.
If the police continued to question him after he requested an attorney, that might be a violation of his Miranda rights--if it was a custodial interrogation.
You should contact the local public defenders office immediately. They can tell you what he'll have to do in order to get a lawyer. Waste no time whatsoever in doing this. Contact the court if you don't know how to reach the public defenders office. Your friend needs to speak with a real lawyer immediately.
He should be able to get a public defender appointed to him. Everyone has the right to an attorney even if they can't afford one. It is the law.
Call the court that is prosecuting him and ask them how to get one.
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