LAFAYETTE, IN — Nevaeh Bell, one of the four accused conspirators in the Jan. 18 shooting of Judge Steve Meyer, wants a new attorney.
Bell filed a correspondence with the court on Tuesday asking that her attorney, Jay Hirschauer, be removed from the case and a public defender appointed to represent her.
Special Judge Lisa Swaim has not yet set a hearing on the request, but Bell is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 18.
“I rely entirely on my attorney to communicate any information about my case,” Bell wrote in her handwritten letter to the court. “I have had very little communication with my attorney despite the seriousness of the charges against me.
“I do not feel adequately informed about the status of my case, the evidence, possible defense strategies or what is being prepared for trial,” Bell wrote. “As a result, the attorney-client relationship is not strong enough for me to have confidence that counsel will provide effective communication moving forward.”
Bell asks the court to appoint her a public defender and asked that any unused money paid to her attorney be refunded to her mother.
“I make this request only because I believe it is necessary to protect my rights to effective representation,” Bell wrote.
Court documents allege Bell, her boyfriend, Thomas Moss, along with Raylen Ferguson and Blake Smith, conspired to kill Meyer in an attempt to delay Moss’ Jan. 20 trial on 2024 charges and to kill the victim from the 2024 case.
The shooting of Meyer and his wife, Kim, at the Meyers’ south-side home was a failed gang hit, according to prosecutors.
Bell faces charges of three counts of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of attempted murder, several battery charges and intimidation charges, as well as obstruction of justice charges. She also faces sentence-enhancing charges of criminal gang activity and use of a firearm in the crimes.
All four defendants have trials pending.
Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Defendant in judge-shooting case says she’s unhappy with attorney
Reporting by Ron Wilkins, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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By Ron Wilkins, Lafayette Journal & Courier | USA TODAY Network
