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Show Man sentenced in grandmother's death by Christopher Snutit Edward Charles Newbury, who pleaded guilty to the second degree murder of his grandmother, was sentenced Nov. 5 by Third District Court Judge David Dee to a term of five years to life imprisonment at the I'tah State Prison. Newbury, 24, a Missouri resident, was arrested in March shortly after police discovered the body of Alma Jones, 66, Kamas, 11 miles east of Kamas on Utah Highway 150. Following Newbury's arrest, Sgt. Rob Berry of the Summit County Sheriff's Department told reporters that Newbury had confessed to the killing. That statement was later disputed by public defender Kenneth Ken-neth R Brown who represented Newbury. Newbury pleaded guilty Sept. 28 lo the second dt gree murder charge. Brown said his client entered the plea against his advice. "It should have gone to trial," Brown said. Newbury did not confess to the crime, according to Brown "They 'Summit County Sheriff's Department! Depart-ment! have misconstrued that statement as a confession." Brown argued that Newbury's statement to the police only "established a possible defense." Following a motion filed in Third District Court by Brown, Newbury underwent a psychiatric evaluation ih Jui.e by mental health officials at the Utah State Hospital i t Provo. Newbury was found mentally competent compe-tent to stand trial. After his stay at the state mental faeilitv. Newbury changed his story. according to Assistant Summit County Attorney Tern- Christiansen. Newbury told police that a Kamas resident was responsible for the murder. Christiansen said. New-bun's New-bun's story was that he was ordered by the killer, under the threat ot death, to be silent. Following a subsequent investigation, investiga-tion, police confronted Newbury, according to Bern-. The investigation showed Newbury had lied about another killer. Berry said. Following that investigation. Brown attempted to plea bargain with the assistant county attorney for a reduced charge of manslaughter. man-slaughter. Christiansen said. Brown's efforts were unsuccessful. Brown filed a motion for a change of venue in Coalville on Aug. 22 during a pre-trial hearing. He argued that publicity about Newbury's New-bury's alleged confession in county newspapers could have precluded Newbury's right to a fair trial here. Judge Dee denied the motion along with a second one asking that Newbury's statements to police immediately following the murder not be allowed as evidence. Newbury began serving his sentence at the state prison Nov. 6. He will be eligible for parole in five years. According to Berry. Newbury came to Kamas to get a "fresh start" after serving time in the Missouri penal system for robbery and burglary. Newbury had also spent time in a Missouri county jail for aggravated assault. Berry said. |