Man Sentenced To Die For Double Murder To Represent Himself In Appeal
By Jim Melwert
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) — Against the advice of the court and against the advice of his lawyers, the man sentenced to death for killing a 10-month old girl and her 61-year-old grandmother in their King of Prussia apartment will represent himself in his appeals process.
Raghu Yandamuri represented himself during the guilt phase of his trial, now he'll represent himself in his appeal after his request for pro se status was reluctantly granted by Montgomery County judge Stephen O'Neill.
O'Neill warned Yandamuri of the dangers of representing himself, telling him a simple mistake such as a missed deadline or a brief filed in the wrong format could result in the dismissal of his case.
Attorneys Stephen Heckman and Henry Hilles are appointed stand-by counsel for Yandamuri. Hilles said they advised Yandamuri against the move.
"The stark reality, as anyone knows from just looking at the record of this case, is his writings tend to ramble on and on and his legal arguments tend to ramble on and on and that will likely prove difficult for him on appeal." said Hilles.
Yandamuri was sentenced to death after he was convicted of killing a 10-month old and her grandmother in the Marquis Apartments in King of Prussia in October 2012 in what was described as a kidnapping gone bad.
