Gwinnett DA may seek indictment against unprepared defense attorney

<p>A court-appointed lawyer who was supposed to defend a double murder suspect Monday may instead face an indictment from the Gwinnett County district attorney.</p><p>In a motion filed Monday morning in Gwinnett County Superior Court, District Attorney Danny Porter said that Atlanta lawyer Herbert Adams had not obtained necessary documents, interviewed key witnesses or reviewed evidence before the scheduled trial of Wesley Harris.</p><p>Superior Court Judge Richard Winegarden declared a mistrial in the Harris case Monday afternoon.</p><p>Porter said he will investigate payments Porter has received for work on Harris defense.</p><p>Porter said Adams has billed Gwinnett County approximately $135,000 for legal expenses in the Harris case. All told, the case has cost the county more than $300,000, said Porter, who said he also will file a formal complaint against Adams with the State Bar of Georgia.</p><p>If hes billed for services he didnt perform, Im going to indict him, Porter said.</p><p>Added Porter: I am so disgusted and angry I can barely force the words out of my mouth.</p><p>In a faxed statement Monday evening, Adams did not address Porters allegations. Adams statement said defendants in capital murder cases should be satisfied with their lawyers.</p><p>Wesley Harris was not satisfied, Adams statement read. A new lawyer will be appointed to represent Mr. Harris.</p><p>Porter said Harris may be tried in September but that it could be next year.</p><p>Harris, 26, is charged in the deaths of Whitney Land, 22, and her daughter Jordan. The two were abducted from Panhandle Park in Lovejoy on Nov. 8, 1999, and driven to Gwinnett County. Both were shot and placed in the trunk of a car, which was then set afire. Harris could face the death penalty.</p><p>Jury selection began Feb. 17 for what promised to be a lengthy trial.</p><p>Porter said hes never seen anything like the situation that led to Mondays mistrial.</p><p>Four years of work went up in a puff of smoke because Herbert Adams wouldnt do his job, Porter said. Heres a man who had a mans life in his hands and he did nothing to prepare. Its obscene.</p><p>___</p><p>Information from: Constitution</p>

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