Ray fails in trial attempt

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34151, 12 May 1976, Page 23

Ray fails in trial attempt

< l\t INNATI <('h.. ■ May 11. \ United States federal Appeals Court has ruled that James Earl Ray cannot repudiate his confession that he assassinated Dr Marlin Luther King, and cannot stand trial. The Court's unanimous decision was the latest of several set-backs for Ray in his seven-year atiempt to have the controversial guilty plea tossed out Ray. aged 4S. who is serving a 99-year sentence it the Tennessee State Prison in Nashville w here he works in the prison laundr; will naw take his case to the United Stales Supremi [Court. Ray pleaded guilty to first-degree murder n ■ March 10, 1969. and the case did not go to trial. But itn mediately after entering the plea. Ray began trving to get it changed, contending that lawyers more interested [in money than his fate had ■ talked him into pleading [guilty. j Ray's two-pronged appeal yesterday alleged that the plea to the late Judge Preston Battle was not "voluntary" and that he did not have "effective” lawyers in Mr Percy Foreman and Mr Arthur Hane- The three judge appellate Court rejected both arguments “The plea was entered voluntarily and knowingly." the judges said of the pleabargaining arrangement that guaranteed that Ray would not receive the death sen tence.