Stanley Liggins wants to fire his defense team.
In a motion filed Thursday, Liggins is asking for another lawyer, citing “fundamental disagreements about pretrial and trial strategy” with public defenders, Derek Jones and Miguel Puentes.
The motion says the attorney client relationship between Liggins and Jones “appears to have completely broken down.”
The motion did not name a potential replacement to take over the case, but it says the Davenport Public Defender’s office cannot adequately staff the case unless Jones acts as counsel.
If the judge approves the motion, the appointment of another lawyer would postpone the trial. It's now scheduled to begin May 22 in Waterloo.
Liggins is charged with the 1990 murder of nine-year-old Jennifer Lewis. He's been tried and found guilty twice, but both convictions were overturned on appeal.