Convicted killer Orlando Baez told a Lancaster County judge on Friday that he's changed his mind — again.

Sentenced to death nearly 17 years ago for killing a young city woman, Janice "Sissy" Williams, Baez now wants to continue his appeal process.

Just five months ago, Baez told Judge Howard Knisely that he was tired of the legal system and wanted to be put to death.

Back in court again Friday, Baez, now 48, said he wants his case to move forward.

"I wish to exercise my right to challenge my conviction and sentence," Baez said. "I no longer want to be executed."

"You understand," Deputy Attorney General Christopher Carusone asked Baez, "that you either win or you'll be executed?"

"I'm not afraid of either one," Baez responded. "I died 19 years ago."

In 2008, Baez asked to be executed but then changed his mind a month later and resumed his appeal efforts.

Last October, Baez changed his mind again, saying he was in ill health and tired of the legal process and state prison, and that wanted to be executed.

Now, he's changed his mind again.

Baez is represented by attorneys with the federal public defender's office, and they will continue their efforts as the appeals continue.

At the start of the hearing Friday, attorneys on both sides agreed that Baez is mentally competent to make decisions about his case.

Knisely ordered that another hearing on the Baez case be scheduled within a month to hear testimony from defense witnesses.

City police maintain that Baez raped, strangled, beat and stabbed Williams more than 100 times in January 1987.

The killer then walked out of her East King Street home, police said, leaving Williams' two small children alone in the apartment with their mother's mutilated body.

The gruesome crime scene was discovered when morning motorists noticed the children standing outside in their pajamas and called police.

After years of investigating the murder, city police arrested Baez and took him to trial in 1993.

Baez was convicted and sentenced to death but has always maintained his innocence, arguing that another man was responsible.

The case has been through the state appellate system, but five years ago the state Supreme Court sent the case back to Lancaster County to decide whether Baez should have another hearing.

Lancaster County Judge Paul Allison was handling the case but became ill before the matter was resolved. The case was then assigned to Knisely.

jkelley@lnpnews.com