Suspect can't fire lawyer

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Lawrence County judge has decided a murder suspect cannot fire his attorney.
Dennis Reed, 31, accused in the December 2001 shotgun death of his estranged girlfriend Wendy Miller, wrote to the Lawrence County Adult Probation Office asking that his attorney, Randall Hetrick of Sharon, be removed from the case.
Reed told a judge Thursday he has seen Hetrick just twice since his arrest and contends the attorney told him he "doesn't know how he's going to beat this case."
Assistant District Attorney Thomas Minett told the judge Reed is "attorney shopping" and "trying to play games."
Hetrick told the judge he was waiting for prosecutors to hand over all of the evidence through the discovery process before starting talks with his client about their defense strategy. Hetrick said he only recently received that evidence.
Reed said he had difficulty reaching his attorney by telephone. Reed is being held without bond in the county jail.
Judge Ralph Pratt told Reed there's no reason for his attorney to meet with him on a regular basis until he has all of the evidence for trial.
Reed insisted he wants another attorney. "I don't appreciate my attorney's outlook," he said. "If he made the statement saying he doesn't know how he's going to beat my case, I think that alone is enough."
Hetrick said he's always been blunt, but he can still represent him.