Murder convict wants out of plea deal

Kim Smith

Friday, April 5, 2002 | 9:34 a.m.

Convicted killer and rapist Christopher Williams, who was expected to be sentenced Thursday, wants to plead for his life in front of a jury.

Williams, 20, was convicted in February of sexually assaulting and fatally stabbing Song Magliari, 64.

Instead of letting a jury sentence him and run the risk of a death sentence, however, Williams agreed to serve two no-parole life terms and the jury was sent home.

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure was scheduled to impose that sentence on Thursday, but Williams told the judge he wants to back out of his agreement.

Williams claimed he was rushed into his decision by his family and his public defenders.

"I wasn't clear-minded when I signed the deal," Williams said.

Bonaventure said he would assign new attorneys to the case on Monday and it would be up to them to file a formal motion to withdraw from the deal.

Prosecutors will then be given a chance to respond and oral arguments will be scheduled shortly thereafter.

Deputy District Attorney Christopher Lalli said he intends to oppose the motion. He said there is no legal basis to approve it.

Magliari was raped, stabbed in the heart and back, then set on fire inside her Simmons Street apartment May 8.

Several of Magliari's neighbors testified they saw Magliari scream at Williams just an hour before her death, and at least one of them saw Williams leave the scene in Magliari's car.

Williams' fingerprints matched those on Magliari's car and DNA evidence linked him to the sexual assault, according to court documents.

Williams testified he had consensual sex with the victim, then left in her car when he and Magliari were interrupted by her former boyfriend, whom he blamed for the slaying.