Burton BurtAugust 25, 2011
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (AP) - A Vermont man is facing an attempted second-degree murder trial after he rejected a deal with prosecutors that would have had him plead no contest to lesser charges.
Burton Burt, 47, of Lunenburg, was in court Wednesday in St. Johnsbury for what was supposed to have been a change of plea hearing.
Burt was charged last summer with attempted second-degree murder after he allegedly assaulted his estranged girlfriend with an ax.
The deal Burt rejected would have had him plead no contest to a charge of aggravated domestic assault in exchange for a sentence of 7 to 20 years.
The Caledonian Record says Burt told the court he wanted a different judge and a different lawyer. He also made obscene gestures in the courtroom.
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