State v. Munroe

We must determine whether the trial court erred by not allowing defendant Leroy Munroe to withdraw his guilty plea before sentence. The ultimate issue is whether withdrawal of the guilty plea would have been in the interests of justice. See R. 3:9—3(e).

Defendant pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter, admitting at his plea hearing that he shot and killed Christian Natal. Shortly thereafter, defendant told the author of his presentence investigation report that he shot Natal because Natal attacked him with a knife. Before sentencing, defendant moved to withdraw his guilty plea, asserting that…