FAYETTEVILLE -- A Tontitown man who pleaded guilty in November to capital murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole contends his attorney was ineffective and he should get a new trial.
Brock Alan Commo Atkins, 20, was charged in the stabbing death of Leann Frazier. Frazier was killed in the early morning hours of May 21, 2014, at Atkins' home.
In a motion filed Wednesday in Washington County Circuit Court, Atkins argued his plea was coerced and his attorney, Pat Aydelott, did not investigate Atkins' contention that he was forced to kill Frazier under threats to his life and the lives of family members.
Atkins was arrested shortly after Frazier's death.
Atkins told police he killed Frazier after being threatened at gunpoint by another man who suspected Frazier of being a police informant. He said he tackled Frazier and stabbed her in the throat "until she stopped making any noises," according to the arrest report.
Metro on 02/05/2016