LOCKPORT — A Niagara County Court judge will weigh a request from a Falls man to withdraw his guilty plea in a domestic violence homicide case.
Niagara County Judge Caroline Wojtaszek heard arguments Tuesday on a motion filed by Edward J. Parmer Jr., 65, to change his plea to a count of second-degree murder in the slaying of Jeanine M. Scull, 48, also of the Falls.
On March 2, with a pool of potential jurors waiting for selection in a room at the Niagara County Courthouse, Parmer’s defense attorney surprised Niagara County prosecutors by asking if there was “a plea available” for her client. Prosecutors said they had not previously discussed a deal in Parmer’s case.
Parmer’s defense attorney, they said, had indicated that her client had “no interest” in a plea offer.
A short time later, Parmer pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree murder, the only count in a grand jury indictment against him stemming from Scull’s murder.
At the time of the plea, Niagara County District Attorney Brian Seaman indicated in a statement that Parmer would face a sentence of 20 years to life in prison. Parmer was scheduled for sentencing on May 9.
Just prior to his sentencing date, Parmer told the court that he had “fired” his defense attorney and asked Wojtaszek to appoint a new lawyer for him and for permission to file additional motions in his case.
The legal maneuvering led to Parmer’s request to withdraw his guilty plea, citing “ineffective assistance of counsel.” Wojtaszek, on Tuesday, reserved her decision on Parmer’s request.
In taking his plea, Parmer admitted to stabbing Scull, described by family members as his “long-time domestic partner”, to death in their home in the 400 block of 22nd Street on July 24, 2024. Those same family members said that there had been a history of domestic abuse between Parmer and Scull.
Falls police said patrol officers responded to a report of a “domestic incident” at about 2:45 a.m. and when they arrived at the scene on 22nd Street, they found Parmer outside the home. Officers said they took Parmer into custody before entering the house.
Inside the home, officers said they found Scull’s body lying on the floor. Detectives said Scull appeared to have suffered a single stab wound to the chest.