BY DAN HORN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Saying he had a bad dream about his coming trial, Joseph Paul Franklin told a judge Tuesday he wants to be more involved in his defense. Mr. Franklin said he would like to act as co-counsel with his attorney so he can make sure he gets a fair trial next month when he faces charges of murdering two Bond Hill teen-agers 18 years ago. "I had a couple of bad dreams about misrepresentation," Mr. Franklin said. "I took that as a bad omen."
Common Pleas Judge Ralph Winkler agreed to Mr. Franklin's request but warned him to follow the rules of the court.
The judge also asked Mr. Franklin, who has been convicted of murder in four other states, whether he had ever represented himself before. Mr. Franklin said he had done so, and had lost both times. "It was close, though," he said. "A lawyer is only as good as his case, you know."
Earlier at the court hearing Tuesday, Mr. Franklin made several motions on his own behalf. He asked that cameras not be pointed at him, complained about his handcuffs and asked to wear something other than a prison uniform.
The judge told Mr. Franklin he would be permitted to wear street clothes and would not be handcuffed before a jury.
"Good," Mr. Franklin said. "I couldn't very well smuggle a machine gun through a shirt and a pair of pants."
