A man facing murder charges fired his lawyer in Prince Albert’s provincial courthouse Tuesday.
Danny Lee Ledoux is accused of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Cindy Joseph. Police found Joseph unresponsive at Mistawasis First Nation on March 3. She was pronounced dead at Shellbrook hospital.
Legal aid lawyer Ian Goldberg has been representing Ledoux. Tuesday morning, he told the judge that his client wants a new lawyer.
“He wishes to fire me and no longer have my services,” Goldberg said.
The judge noted that the case is a “serious matter.” He said it was “obvious” that Ledoux will require counsel. But Goldberg said legal aid has no intention of providing him with a different lawyer.
The Crown prosecutor agreed that the court should find a solution, rather than leaving Ledoux to represent himself.
“It’s not the most complicated murder in terms of trying it,” he said. “It’s just the high stakes involved.”
Ledoux said he wants court-appointed council, and called for a specific lawyer by name. He prepared to read a statement laying out his reasons for firing Goldberg. But the judge cut him short.
“You don’t get your choice of counsel,” he said.
The judge granted Ledoux’s request to drop Goldberg, but declined to immediately appoint a new lawyer. He advised Ledoux that he could appeal legal aid’s decision to refuse the change of counsel, and set a new court date for May 29.
