Defendant Gets New Lawyer and Trial After Smearing Feces on PD
Updated: A defendant who wanted his public defender removed from the case will get his wish after smearing feces on his lawyer’s face and flinging the material at jurors.
Weusi McGowan was on trial in San Diego for a home invasion and robbery when he brought in a plastic bag filled with excrement during a midmorning break, City Wire reports in a story posted on 10News.com and SanDiego6.com. McGowan smeared the feces on the face and in the hair of Deputy Alternate Public Defender Jeffrey Martin, then flung the material toward the jurors, the story says.
The excrement missed Juror No. 9 but hit his briefcase.
Judge Jeffrey Fraser had denied McGowan’s request to represent himself, the story says. The judge declared a mistrial and said McGowan would have to get a new lawyer.
Martin called the attack “a very unfortunate incident” in an interview with the Daily Journal (sub. req.). “Mr. McGowan is seriously mentally ill, he is retarded and has brain damage,” he said.
Updated on Jan. 28 to include comments from Martin.
