Glazer, citing a conflict of interest, says he can't defend Ketchner
KINGMAN - The capital murder case against Darrell Ketchner suffered a setback this week after the 52-year-old defendant's lawyer pulled out of the case.
Flagstaff attorney Stephen Glazer told the court Friday that he can no longer represent Ketchner because of a conflict of interest. Glazer said he could not disclose what the conflict is, because doing so would violate attorney-client privilege.
Ketchner is still being represented by Prescott attorney John Napper, who said that efforts are underway to find a replacement for Glazer. He said he already has a person in mind and hopes to have them onboard within the next few weeks.
Mohave County Prosecutor Megan McCoy said the state took no position on Glazer's withdrawal, except to say that the delay was frustrating.
Judge Rick Williams said it was not unusual for conflicts such as these to arise during preparation for a case. He added that it was important to balance the defendant's right to counsel with the victims' rights to a speedy trial.
Ketchner is charged with attacking his estranged girlfriend, Jennifer Allison, after she and her children had returned from a fireworks display July 4, 2009. Allison was shot in the head but survived. Her daughter, 18-year-old Ariel Allison, was stabbed several times and died at the scene. Several other children in the home escaped injury.
Ketchner has waived his appearance at all non-substantive court hearings and was not in court Friday.
Napper said that his client has been unable to contact members of his defense team because an inmate being housed in the same high-security pod at the Mohave County Jail continues breaking the phone that the inmates have access to. Napper said he understood that there was nothing the court could do about the situation, but said that Ketchner asked him to make a statement on the record about the matter.
The state is seeking the death penalty in the case.
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