Elijah Hall, the teen who pleaded guilty of murdering Manish Melwani last summer at the Pit Stop in Ballard, appeared in King County Superior Court this morning with his new attorney. Last month the teen announced that he wanted a new attorney because his current attorney, Tony Savage, was ineffective. The teen also stated that he wanted to change his plea.
According to our news partners, The Seattle Times, there will be a future hearing for a judge to determine whether or not Savage was ineffective. If the judge agrees with Hall, the accused will be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea. The Times is reporting that prosecutors could file additional charges against Hall if he is allowed to withdraw his plea. Savage agreed that it “wasn’t appropriate” to remain Hall’s attorney if he switches his plea. (File photo courtesy KEN LAMBERT/THE SEATTLE TIMES.)
Murdering punk. What a system where someone can confess freely, have their crime recorded on tape, plead guilty, and then decide, no they'll roll the dice on getting off with a lessor sentence by making us pay for a trial after all. Is he claiming indigent status so we're also paying for his lawyer(s)?
I hope they throw the proverbial book at him after his conviction.
I just looked a bit further. This punk hired one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the state, and he's claiming the guy is “ineffective”?!!
I addition to being Green River killer Gary Ridgeway's defense attorney, here's a list of Tony Savage's other high-profile cases in the past few years:
He defended:
+ Kevin Cruz for a November 1999 fatal shooting at Seattle's Northlake Shipyard.
+ Charles Campbell, who hung in in 1994 for killing 3 people and Brian Ronquillo, convicted of shooting a Ballard High School student in 1994.
+ David Lewis Rice, once sentenced to die, now serving life for killing Seattle attorney Charles Goldmark and his family.
He defended city councilmen against theft and drug charges.
He represented Seattle police detective Earl “Sonny” Davis, whose case was dismissed after 2 juries couldn't decide if he stole money from a crime scene.
Agree the biggest outrage is playing legal games with the taxpayer's money and having the unmitigated gall to call it justice. Think of what that money could be used for these days instead of this nonsense. Obviously he still feels no obligation to accept responsibility for what he did. He is a monster that should be kept behind bars for a long time. Really, really ugly.
Please plead not guilty, that way we can guarantee a nice 40 year stretch at Monroe.
The guy should be put to death, as he felt justified to put another (innocent) man to death…worthless POS.
i don't think the punk hired anyone. pro bono maybe?
You sound fat
Whatever happens, I hope he is kept off the the street for a long time, so we can go forward without him being a threat to society.
You'd be surprised how many little criminal jerks come from families with money.
I'd prefer a 40 year stretch somewhere much further away.
He looks creepy. Ew.
Finally there is a photo of this turd.