Husband's plea stands in kidnaping, killing of wife

PEKIN, Ill. - A Tazewell County judge has denied a Peoria man's request to withdraw his guilty plea in the kidnapping and killing of his estranged wife.

The Pekin Daily Times reports Circuit Judge Michael Brandt upheld the guilty plea after Phouvone Sophanavong said he received ineffective counsel from his two public defenders. Brandt sentenced him to 55 years in prison in April for fatally shooting his wife, 28-year-old Laongdao Phangthon, in November 2013.

Sophanavong says his attorneys didn't fully explain the term "premeditated." He says he didn't plan or intend to kill his wife when he shot her.

His attorneys tell Brandt they were prepared to go to trial if Sophanavong had not wanted to plead.

He could appeal Brandt's denial of his new trial request.