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FARMINGTON (AP) — A Utah man is appealing his prison sentence, arguing that his court interpreter was inaccurate.
The Standard-Examiner of Ogden reports that 51-year-old Stepan Badikyan only speaks Armenian. He was sentenced to 3 years to life in prison in November 2015 for the attempted murder of his estranged wife.
Prosecutors say he punched the woman, stabbed her with a box cutter and tried to run her over in a store parking lot in 2014.
Badikyan pleaded guilty to attempted murder in April. He later tried to withdraw that plea, saying he didn't understand the consequences, but the judge denied his request.
His lawyer Julie George has filed a motion requesting a new sentencing hearing and a better interpreter.
Deputy Davis County Attorney Jason Nelson has filed a motion opposing a new hearing.
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Information from: Standard-Examiner, http://www.standard.net
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