Suspect in beating withdraws guilty plea

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Pittsburgh man accused of brutally beating three people at a house party last year withdrew his guilty plea on assault charges just as he was about to be sentenced.

Twenty-eight-year-old Ryan O’Connell opted Thursday to go on trial instead in the brutal February 2009 attacks. O’Connell told the judge he’d only pleaded guilty because he felt his attorney wouldn’t adequately represent him at trial.

Allegheny County Judge Kevin Sasinoski granted O’Connell’s request. Prosecutors say they’ll reinstate attempted homicide charges that had been dropped as part of a plea deal.

Authorities suspect O’Connell used a barbell to beat a man and two women during a night of drug use. All three sustained serious head injuries.