Sentencing Delayed For Catoosa Murder Defendant

CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) -- A sentencing hearing has been delayed for a man who pleaded guilty to a murder charge in the death of a former attorney at a Catoosa motel.<br/><br/>Because of ongoing plea negotiations,

Friday, September 29th 2006, 6:04 am

By: News On 6

CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) -- A sentencing hearing has been delayed for a man who pleaded guilty to a murder charge in the death of a former attorney at a Catoosa motel.

Because of ongoing plea negotiations, the sentencing hearing for 30-year-old Eric Hamilton has been moved back to October 18th.

Hamilton pleaded guilty to a first-degree murder charge and agreed to testify against co-defendant Derek Arnold. Rogers County Judge Dynda Post delayed the sentencing Wednesday at the request of defense attorneys who were seeking minor changes in Hamilton's plea agreement.

After the July 2002 killing, Hamilton turned himself in at the Tulsa Police Department and told authorities Arnold went to the motel room of Michael Yarbrough and hit him with a tire tool, tried to drown him and eventually broke his back.

Arnold was found guilty and sentenced earlier this month to life in prison without parole.