Accused Planned Parenthood shooter wants to fire his attorneys

Accused Planned Parenthood shooter Robert Dear wants to fire his attorneys and represent himself in court, he told Judge Gilbert Martinez today at a motions hearing.

Before the hearing started, Dear shouted out: “I do not want them as my attorneys. I want to exercise my constitutional right to defend myself.”

The defense attorneys argued Dear should have his issues addressed promptly. The judge advised Dear of his rights and encouraged him to listen to his lawyer, Dan King, a public defender who also represented the Aurora theater shooter.

Dear responded: “How can I trust them?” He accused King of telling newspapers Dear was incompetent.

Martinez cleared the courtroom, including the prosecution, and conferred with Dear and his attorneys. As of this writing, no decisions have been made regarding the wish of the accused shooter with the unkept hair and long gray beard whose lawyer says is mentally unstable.

 

has been a political journalist since 1998. She covered the state capitol for the Silver & Gold Record from 1998 to 2009 and for The Colorado Statesman in 2010-11 and 2013-14. Since 2010 she also has covered the General Assembly for newspapers in northeastern Colorado. She was recognized with awards from the Colorado Press Association for feature writing and informational graphics for her work with the Statesman in 2012.