BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON -- Lawyers for Franklin Saunders, who is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, withdrew from the case Wednesday, citing their client's best interests. Judge H.J. Bressler of Butler County Common Pleas Court excused Ken Lawson and Rodney Harris from representing Mr. Saunders.
The judge declared Mr. Saunders to be financially destitute and said he will appoint defense attorneys who are certified to handle death-penalty cases.
Mr. Lawson told the judge he and Mr. Harris wanted to withdraw from the case "to protect Mr. Saunders' rights."
Mr. Saunders told the judge he consented to the change in attorneys. Mr. Saunders, 39, of Blue Ash, is accused of dragging Lisa Weber, 39, of Fairfield into his car on June 9 and shooting her to death in woods off Muhlhauser Road in Butler County's Union Township.
He is charged with aggravated murder, kidnapping and violating a previous court order not to have weapons. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Mr. Lawson could not comment after Wednesday's hearing because of the judge's gag order on parties connected with this case.
After Judge Bressler appoints new defense attorneys, a hearing will be held Aug. 6 to determine whether Mr. Saunders is entitled to have the court appoint and pay for a psychologist and a mitigation expert in the trial.
The judge said he was troubled by a report that Mr. Saunders' attorneys advised him not to cooperate with the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Hamilton, which has been trying to interview Mr. Saunders to help determine whether he's legally insane.
In a July 27 letter to Judge Bressler, Dr. Bobbie G. Hopes, a forensic psychologist with the center, said Mr. Saunders refused to talk with her July 26 at the Butler County Jail.
She said he told her his attorney had instructed him not to talk to her about events related to the case.
Judge Bressler said he would discuss this issue with the new defense attorneys.
