Bloomington man may seek new sentence in slaying

SPRINGFIELD - A Bloomington man serving life in prison in the 2008 slayings of two brothers will be allowed to seek a lesser sentence.

The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reported Thursday that the 4th District Appellate Court sent 37-year-old Michael Brown's case back to McLean County Court, where he'll have a chance to argue that he was given incorrect legal information by his lawyer.

Brown was convicted in 2009 for killing David and Calvin Walls and injuring their brother after a dispute at an apartment building. He was acquitted of shooting a fourth man.

Brown claims he acted in self-defense.

He claims he lacked competent counsel because his attorney told him he faced 20 to 60 years in prison if convicted, but not that life in prison was a potential sentence for killing two people.