After walking into a New York police precinct and confessing to the 1993 murder of John Henkel, G. Dep has entered a plea of not guilty in his ongoing murder trial. Nearly one month ago, G. Dep (real name Trevell Coleman) told officers at Harlem’s 25th precinct that his conscience was getting the best of him after he shot Henkel during a botched 1993 robbery. The Manhattan Supreme Court quickly charged Coleman with second-degree murder—a charge, which carries a 25-to-life sentence.
Coleman’s lawyer, Anthony Ricco, said his client still stands by his account of shooting Henkel, and that the not guilty plea was more of a procedural move to give him more time to examine Coleman’s confession.
“We want to make sure what we’re dealing with the reality of what actually happened that night,” Ricco told the Wall Street Journal. “Some will call what he did stupid, but I think he’s doing it to get things right between himself and God.”
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Ricco added that Coleman had struggled with PCP use in past years, and his confession may have been linked to the practice of making amends that many rehabilitation programs promote. Both Ricco and members of Henkel’s family have stated they believe the murder would have remained unsolved if Coleman had not stepped forward. In addition to the murder charge, a grand jury also indicted Coleman on manslaughter and criminal use of a firearm charges; he is due back in court on February 10.
[January 14]
UPDATE: A chilling video of G. Dep’s confession to the 1993 murder of John Henkel has been released. Watch the clip below (via RTNY).
