New attorney for GA man accused of killing officer

ATHENS - A man accused of killing an Athens police officer is getting a new attorney.

Defense attorneys Christian Lamar and Emily Gilbert have asked a judge to withdraw as lawyers for defendant Jamie Hood.

Hood is charged with killing police officer Elmer ``Buddy'' Christian III and wounding Tony Howard in March 2011. He faces the death penalty if convicted.

The attorneys did not publicly divulge why they want off the case, but Hood has been at odds with them for months over legal strategy. They attorneys said the director of the Capital Defender Office had decided they would be replaced by another capital defender, Newell Hamilton Jr.

A hearing was expected Monday on whether the current judge should be recused from the case.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/10/254381