AUBURN — A defense attorney who represented Buddy Robinson at his 2012 murder trial is expected to testify at an upcoming hearing on Robinson’s bid for a new trial.

Robinson filed a post-conviction review seeking a new trial, claiming his trial attorney, Edward “Ted” Dilworth III, provided ineffective assistance of counsel during Robinson’s murder trial.

At issue is whether Dilworth conveyed a plea bargain offer from prosecutors to Robinson for a sentence considerably less than the 55 years he was given as a sentence after his murder conviction at trial.

Dilworth hadn’t waived his attorney-client privileged discussions with Robinson, but an Androscoggin County Superior Court judge on Tuesday issued an order clearing the way for Dilworth to testify at an Aug. 8 hearing in the case.

Robinson was convicted in the 2011 beating and drowning death of Christiana Fesmire, who lived downstairs from his Highland Avenue apartment in Lewiston.

cwilliams@sunjournal.com

Buddy Robinson talks with his attorney, Jim Howaniec, via videoconferencing at Androscoggin County Superior Court in Auburn on Tuesday. 

Attorney Edward Dilworth takes the witness stand before Justice MaryGay Kennedy in Androscoggin County Superior Court in Auburn on Tuesday. Dilworth was Buddy Robinson’s attorney during Robinson’s murder trial in 2012.