A state judge today allowed a Baton Rouge man accused of killing his wife and four in-laws in 2006 to fire his court-appointed lawyers and represent himself at trial on five counts of first-degree murder.
Anthony Bell, 27, who says he has a ninth-grade education, told state District Judge Todd Hernandez that serving as his own attorney is the only way to get documents and reports that he claims his lawyers are withholding from him. Bell also told the judge that he wants to serve as his own attorney to make sure he gets to speak during trial.
Hernandez, who has previously denied a motion by Bell to act as his own attorney, asked Bell questions for almost an hour to determine whether Bell understands court procedures as well as the magnitude of the decision.
For example, Hernandez asked Bell if he understood how to pick a jury, make legal arguments, introduce evidence and perform other trial tasks to which Bell responded: “I have some research to do.”
The trial is set to begin March 31.
After court, Bell’s former defense attorney, Margaret Lagattuta, said she does not think Bell understands his decision. Lagattuta said she still believes Bell is mentally retarded.
“There is an old adage among lawyers and it says a lawyer who represents himself is a fool and that applies in this case,” Lagattuta said.
Bell is accused of killing his estranged wife, Erica, in the parking lot of an apartment complex after shooting four of his in-laws to death inside a Dallas Drive church.
In addition to his wife, Bell is accused of killing her second cousin, Darlene Selvage, 47; her great-aunt, Doloris McGrew, 68; and her grandparents, Gloria Howard, 72, and Leonard Howard, 78. Prosecutors say he also wounded his mother-in-law, Claudia Brown, the pastor of The Ministry of Jesus Christ Church.
Prosecutor Mark Dumaine said today after court that he thinks the trial could have a “circus-like environment.” Dumaine also said he’s always doubted that Bell is mentally retarded.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Source: The Advocate