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Man Seeks Retrial In Wife's 1992 Murder

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- A Walkersville man serving a life sentence for his wife's murder is seeking a new trial in what would be his fourth go-round in the courts.

The Frederick News-Post reports Thursday that William Fagan, 56, claims he lacked a full understanding of the law when he pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Deborah Fagan.

Fagan had previously been tried twice for the 1992 shooting.

His first trial ended with a hung jury in 1993. His 1995 conviction for murder conspiracy was overturned on appeal.

Fagan avoided a third trial in 1997 by pleading guilty to murder conspiracy. He got life with all but 10 years suspended and was released in 2000. A drunken driving conviction in 2003 violated his probation and sent him back to prison for life.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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