Myers Former Attorney Testifies In Court

Last updated on Friday, April 26, 2013

(MORGAN COUNTY) - The attorney who defended John Myers in the 2006 murder trial of IU Student Jill Behrman testified in a Morgan County Court Thursday.

Patrick Baker is defending himself and the job he did during the six months he represented Myers.

Myers has a new defense team. Together they are trying to convince a Morgan County judge that Baker was ineffective as defense counsel and therefore Myers deserves a new trial.

In 2011, Baker was disciplined by the Indiana Supreme Court for his conduct during the trial.

However, when questioned about how well he was prepared for the trial and his actions during the trial, Baker testified he was well prepared for the case and if anything, he spent too much of his time on the case.

In court, attorneys for the State are arguing Baker did the best job he could do at the time.

"He put his heart and soul in the case it didn't come out the way they wanted. That is the life of the trial attorney. One side is going to win, one side is going to lose. The loser doesn't always mean you were ineffective. It just means you didn't win," said Steve Sonnega Morgan County Prosecutor.

A woman who once claimed to have been involved in the death of Behrman, who went missing during a 2000 bicycle ride, has apologized to the victim's mother for lying about the case.

The Herald-Times reports, Wendy Owings apologized to Marilyn Behrman Wednesday.

Owings had told authorities more than a decade ago that she and others had stabbed Behrman's 19-year-old daughter, Jill. Hunters found her remains in 2003.

Owings testified during the hearing for Myers, who was convicted in Behrman's death in 2006.

Owings apologized for lying about the case and causing the investigation to drag out.

Testimony in the case continues today.

John Myers

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