A state Appellate Court panel today rejected an appeal where a Newark man claimed that he received ineffective assistance from his attorney before pleading guilty in 2004, and that corrections officers later destroyed his files.
Julius Wilson claimed he pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the death of Muhammad Bah but was not explained the consequences of his guilty plea.
Wilson also claimed inadequate arguments were made by his attorney during his sentencing.
However, appellate panel today rejected Wilson's arguments.
The panel stated that the defendant did not specify or show why trial counsel failed to properly prepare or defend him at trial.
Defendant could not provide any details as to when or what was taken which files were taken that prevented him from re-filing a timely petition. He claimed withdrew a timely filed petition as a result of threats made by an unnamed correctional officers.
However, claim was voided after no proof of said claims was submitted. The petition was also denied because Wilson file appeal more than eight years after sentencing when should have been filed within five years.
On Sept. 10, 2002, Wilson and and his co-defendant, Farad Wynn, approached Muhammad Bah, 47, of Newark, as he was sitting on the porch at the residence and took Bah's money. After Wynn and Bah took his wallet Bah asked for it back when he was shot.