Something accused double murderer Lamour Branch reportedly said in a recent meeting with his lawyer prompted a motion by defense counsel in the New Philadelphia double murder case to find him a new attorney.
Branch appeared in Courtroom 2 on Monday afternoon because his attorney, Public Defender Ashley Sabol was looking to remove herself from the case.
Branch also said he was unhappy with Sabol’s performance to date and wanted a new lawyer.
However, Schuylkill County President Judge Jacqueline Russell said the reasons each gave publicly on Monday weren’t enough to justify delaying the trial, which is set to begin May 4. She ordered them to continue toward the trial date this Spring.
Branch, 21, is accused of murdering 18-year-old Hunter Mock and 16-year-old Angelito Caraballo at a wooded area near New Philadelphia called The Sanchez in early-October 2023. He is facing two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of third-degree murder, and numerous other offenses
What was said?
On Monday, Sabol said she and fellow Public Defender Andrea Thompson met with Branch on Jan. 30 to discuss discuss discovery evidence in the case.
And while there have been differences of opinion on how best to pursue the case, Sabol said that meeting was going well and they were making progress together until Branch said something that convinced her that she needed to leave the case to someone else.
“Ethically, things were said toward me and Atty. Thompson,” Sabol said.
However, despite prompting from Russell to disclose what Branch said in that meeting, Sabol refused to disclose it unless she could have a tête-à-tête between herself, Russell, District Attorney Mike O’Pake and Senior Deputy District Attorney Jen Foose.
The judge said that type of conference in the courtroom was very rare and opted against having it.
Sabol explained in open court that the reason she couldn’t talk about what Branch reportedly said during that Jan. 30 meeting is because “There may be a situation when multiple parties involved may perjure themselves.”
Despite that, the attorney did tell Russell she’ll be ready for trial by May
“They think they know the law. They think they know better.”
In addition to Sabol having some reservations continuing as Branch’s lawyer because of that conversation on the 30th, the defendant used the hearing as an opportunity to express his frustrations with his attorney.
Russell explained to Branch that Sabol is his court-appointed free lawyer and he’s not free to choose who he wants among the Public Defenders.
And up until this point, in all pre-trial motions, Branch has expressed to Russell under oath that he’s been satisfied with his attorney.
However, on Monday, Branch told the judge that he doesn’t believe Sabol has been filing enough pre-trial motions ahead of the trial. He cited research he’s done on cases similar to his in the law library at Schuylkill County Prison.
“It doesn’t get spoke about unless I’m the one bringing up the motions,” he told Russell.
The judge responded, “She’s been doing what a lawyer is supposed to do for a client.”
Sabol defended her work in the case and said she’s provided Branch with everything he’s requested, including an external hard drive to review evidence in discovery.
Russell said, “Frankly, I don’t see what the problem is. A lawyer doesn’t have to file a motion they find to be meritless. She’s made that determination.”
Branch indicated that he believed Sabol should be filing motions to, as an example, suppress evidence.
Russell explained that those types of hearings, a motion in limine, are typically filed closer to the start of a trial.
The judge was also critical of Branch believing that he was more knowledgeable of the law than his own attorney. And that he’s not alone, among those facing trial, in believing that.
“They think they know the law. They think they know better,” she told Branch.
Russell told Sabol to meet with Branch again to discuss his concerns but ultimately decided to continue on the current path to a trial, which is 83 days away (as of Feb. 10).
FULL COVERAGE: No one is covering the New Philadelphia murder case as closely as Coal Region Canary. To see our entire archive of content on this case, follow this link.
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