Teen tries to withdraw murder plea

10/5/2009

A Toledo man who pleaded guilty Friday to murder in connection to the May 31 shooting-death of a man on his front porch asked a Lucas County Common Pleas Court judge Monday to withdraw the plea.

Enrique Martinez, 18, of 414 Courtland Ave., pleaded guilty to murder for the death of David Taylor, Sr. He faced life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years when he appeared before Judge Ruth Ann Franks Monday for sentencing.

Instead, Martinez requested that he be allowed to withdraw his plea. Judge Franks set a Thursday hearing and appointed another lawyer to address the issue.

Police say Mr. Taylor's son, David, Jr., and his son's ex-girlfriend had recently had a fight when Martinez, the young woman's new boyfriend, and four women went to the Taylor house. The elder Taylor opened the door and stepped outside, where he got into an argument with the women.

He was shot in the back as he tried to go back inside his house.