Astor grandson urges plea bargain for dad

NEW YORK, May 20 (UPI) -- The grandson of the late New York socialite Brooke Astor Wednesday urged his father to settle charges he took advantage of her senility to loot her estate.

Philip Marshall said after his testimony in a Manhattan courtroom that his father Anthony Marshall should "try to plea bargain and seek forgiveness from your mother and those who love her."

The New York Daily News said there was no immediate response from the 84-year-old elder Marshall.

Philip Marshall, 56, a Rhode Island college professor, jousted with defense attorney Ken Warner over Marshall's relationship with his father. The Daily News said Marshall testified he did not stop by and visit his dad on one occasion in 2001 because he "did not have an appointment."

Anthony Marshall has denied the allegations and contends his mother was lucid when she changed her will and allocated millions of dollars that had been earmarked for charity to him.