Smith Asks for New Counsel During First Day of Murder Trial in Alliance

Smith Asks for New Counsel During First Day of Murder Trial in Alliance
George W. Smith (Photo Courtesy of BBCSO)
May 4th, 2021 | Scott Miller

A hand-written motion asking for new counsel was filed Monday by George Smith, the Alliance man whose trial for the stabbing death of another man was started the same day.

67-year-old George Smith is charged with 2nd Degree Murder and Use of a Deadly Weapon to Commit a Felony in the death of Steven Oliver, who died following an altercation that occurred at a home on Tuluca Avenue in Alliance last June.

In the letter submitted Monday, the same day scheduled for jury selection, Smith asked for his public defender to be dismissed and new counsel outside that office be appointed.

Smith claims his defense attorney has failed to keep him up to date on the status of the case, and has not reasonably consulted with him on objectives to be accomplished in his defense.

Court records did not indicate that District Judge Travis O’Gorman has ruled on the motion, which, if granted, would halt the proceedings for an indeterminate amount of time.

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