Pocono News Section

Confusion in the Courtroom During Hearing for Double Murder Suspect

Confusion in the Courtroom During Hearing for Double Murder Suspect - Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 04:02AM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday April 21 2010
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY -- A man accused of shooting his girlfriend and their toddler son was in Monroe County court Wednesday. The admitted killer planned to plead guilty. But things didn't go his way in court.

Michael Parrish told the judge he wanted to kill his girlfriend their son. He admitted he shot them both multiple times in their Chestnuthill Township home. It seemed that would be enough for him to enter a guilty plea -- but then something surprising happened.

Michael Parrish said he is guilty. He murdered Victoria Adams and their toddler son Sydney. He told the judge, "there is no doubt that I committed these crimes."

The victims' family listened to the confession. Victorias father Malcolm Adams said, "He's a creep. He's a low life. Basically all that's I have to say about him."

Psychologist John Abbruzzese testified that parish is mentally fit to make a plea. "He's very bright. He's very articulate and he knows exactly what he wants to do," he said.

It seemed the plea agreement would move forward normally. Then Parrish's attorney asked him to explain what happened on the day of the shootings last July. "Things were going good till that lawyer started changing things around," said Adams.

The victim's family was outraged as they heard Parrish calmly explain in graphic detail how he killed Victoria and Sydney. He said he shot Victoria in a jealous rage because he thought she was having an affair. He then said he shot the child because his life was over anyway.

Victorias aunt Ann Adams-Wagner said, "He's justifying why she was killed and that baby - how do you justify killing a baby? There's no justification."

The court saw that as a defense. And the explanation Parrish gave does not meet the legal definition for murder - because it involves a sudden unplanned rage. Therefore he was not allowed to plead guilty to murder. He will have to face trial.

His lawyer wouldn't talk to us after the hearing. And the victims' family said this makes the pain even worse. "Now we're gonna have to sit through a trial and that's going to be worse than anything. I thought it would be over," said Adams-Wagner.

Parrish was also angry with the outcome. He accused his lawyer of undermining him and said, "I absolutely committed murder in the first degree and it was pre-meditated."

But the judge says the law must be followed and Parrish will face trial. A date has not been set.