Trial date set in 2020 murder case. Who will be the defense lawyer?
A judge has granted a lawyer's wish to relieve him from defending a woman facing a murder charge who identifies as a sovereign citizen.
Wearing a yellow Marion County Jail uniform and appearing at her pre-trial hearing via Zoom on Thursday, Neely Lauren Petrie-Blanchard told Circuit Judge Lisa Herndon she wants a new lawyer. The judge rejected the request, saying she believes the move to dismiss local defense lawyer Jack Maro appears strategic.
The judge told the 37-year-old Pensacola woman that jury selection will begin April 15, and her trial starts that week.
Maro said he first learned he was fired on the internet. He said he met with his former client at the jail and was informed of his termination.
Maro said Petrie-Blanchard claims he's working for the FBI and is conspiring against her. The lawyer thinks Petrie-Blanchard is incompetent to proceed and that she had plans to use her mental state as a defense at trial.
He said he and Petrie-Blanchard are at odds and it would not be in his best interest to represent her. He said he also filed a motion to continue the case so another attorney could have time to prepare a defense.
Assistant State Attorney Amy Berndt, one of two lawyers prosecuting the case, urged the court not to delay the case. She said Petrie-Blanchard's intentions are clear: She doesn't want Maro as her attorney and she wants to represent herself.
Maro noted that, if convicted, his former client could spend the rest of her life in prison.
Berndt told the court the defendant has identified herself as a sovereign citizen and is mentally competent to stand trial. She said a doctor met with the woman in January and thinks she's fine. Sovereign citizens are those who question the government's authority over individuals.
Hearing both sides, the judge granted Maro's motion to withdraw from the case.
Placing Petrie-Blanchard under oath, the judge asked her if she intended to represent herself. She answered yes, but wanted time to consult with a lawyer. She said because she's incarcerated, there's hardly any time to actively search for an attorney.
The judge told the woman she already has a lawyer, but Petrie-Blanchard wasn't interest in retaining Maro.
Assistant State Attorney Toby Hunt, also prosecuting the case, told the court someone from Canada prepared Petrie-Blanchard's motion and the case is on track for trial.
The judge said the case is old and Maro has done a significant amount of work on the case. She concluded that Petrie-Blanchard is competent to stand trial.
Background on the case
In late 2020, sheriff's deputies were called to an address in Marion Oaks in reference to a shooting. Arriving, deputies found a child and another person hiding inside the residence.
Searching the home, deputies found Christopher Hallett on the kitchen floor. The 50-year-old had been shot multiple times and was deceased, authorities said.
From their investigation, officials were told that Petrie-Blanchard was the alleged shooter and she had fled the scene. She was later arrested in Georgia.
Officials believe Petrie-Blanchard was upset with Hallett, who apparently was trying to get her children back. She was accused of removing her twin daughters, who were younger than 10 at the time, from Kentucky, law enforcement officials said. She was not the children's legal guardian, officials said.
Information: More details emerge in Marion Oaks fatal shooting
Witnesses identified Petrie-Blanchard as the person armed with the gun confronting the victim.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Trial set in 2020 murder case; will there be a defense lawyer?
