JONESBORO, Ark.—Jessie Misskelley Jr., one of three men convicted in 1994 of killing three boys in West Memphis is to ask a judge at a hearing to grant him a new trial.

Misskelley and Jason Baldwin say they had ineffective counsel when they were convicted in the 1993 slayings of the three 8-year-old boys.

Circuit Judge David Burnett began a hearing Wednesday to consider arguments to throw out sentences and convictions of Baldwin and Misskelley for killing second-graders Michael Moore, Steven Branch and Christopher Byers.

Baldwin received life in prison without parole and Misskelley, who was tried separately, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life plus 40 years.

A hearing for a third defendant, Damien Wayne Echols, who received the death penalty, was held previously, and he was denied a new trial.

Misskelley was in court Thursday while Baldwin’s portion was continuing, but did not take the stand. The hearing is to continue Monday. Greene County District Court Judge Dan Stidham, who was one of Misskelley’s original attorneys in 1994, is scheduled to testify.

One month after the boys’ bodies were found in a water-filled ditch near their West Memphis homes, Misskelley gave police a confession to the crime that also implicated Baldwin and Echols.

Defense attorneys have alleged that West Memphis police unduly pressured Misskelley into confessing to the crimes. A tape recording of his confession was played for the jury at his trial. Misskelley told West Memphis police the Moore child escaped his attackers, but he chased the child down and brought him back to Echols and Baldwin who killed him.

Like Baldwin, Misskelley did not testify at his original trial. Misskelley could take the stand Monday, and it would be the first time for prosecutors to question him under oath.

On the stand last week, Baldwin denied killing the boys.