Man accused of murder gets new lawyer
Karina Bazarte
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The man accused of killing his girlfriend near Senator Wash in Imperial County got a new lawyer during his latest court appearance Tuesday.
56-year-old James Hill, who was extradited to Imperial County earlier this month, is charged in the murder of 34-year-old September Lee Weisinger.
Tuesday’s court appearance was supposed to be Hill’s readiness hearing and bail review, but the attorney representing Hill is no longer representing him due to a conflict of interest in another case.
The judge appointed another attorney and the suspect waved his right to a speedy preliminary hearing.
“He gave up the right to have the hearing as soon as possible, which is within 10 court days…so he did not give up on the hearing itself; he just gave up the right to have the hearing as soon as possible for his new defense counsel to prepare,” said Imperial County Senior Deputy Attorney Wayland Chang.
A new attorney was assigned to Hill, and the preliminary hearing is set to take place on October 21.
Bail is set at $2 million, and bail review was removed due to a change of attorney.
The victim’s ashes were supposed to arrive in Kentucky last Friday, but the victim’s mother says she still hasn’t received them.