CLEVELAND, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A plea of innocent by reason of insanity was withdrawn from the case of a Cleveland man accused of killing 11 women, one of his attorneys confirms.
Attorney John Parker, who is representing Anthony Sowell, said the defense team changed Sowell's plea to innocent Wednesday after being asked by a judge if Sowell could undergo a psychiatric evaluation, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported.
"That wasn't appropriate at this time," Parker said, "because we don't have all the information needed for anyone to do a proper evaluation. We still don't have any of our client's background records -- military, medical or prison."
Sowell, 50, is facing 85 charges connected to the discovery of the bodies of 11 women in his Cleveland home in October.
The charges include murder, assault, corpse abuse and rape.
Parker told The Plain Dealer the defense team may reconsider a plea of innocent by reason of insanity once he and his fellow defense attorney obtain and review information pertaining to their client.
