Pennsylvania Daybook

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SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — A man serving life in the murder of a man whose body was found in a sport utility vehicle at the bottom of a northeastern Pennsylvania ravine says he got bad advice in rejecting a plea deal. The (Scranton) Times-Tribune (http://bit.ly/2lNMDa3 ) reports that 26-year-old Neil Pal filed an appeal this week blaming his trial attorneys for rejection of the third-degree murder plea offer. Pal was convicted in Lackawanna County of first-degree murder and sentenced to life plus 20 to 40 years in the July 2013 death of 24-year-old Frank Bonacci. Prosecutors said Pal drove Bonacci to an isolated area and provided the murder weapon, and the SUV was then launched down a 72-foot ravine. Pal's appeal also says his lawyers failed to object to testimony and judicial rulings. ___ Information from: The Times-Tribune, http://thetimes-tribune.com/

Man serving life in murder of man found in SUV appeals