LIHUE — The defense attorney representing a Lihue man charged with murder has withdrawn as his counsel. Dressed in an orange Kauai Community Correctional Center jumpsuit, a cleanly shaven Francisco Keola Manuel, 37, appeared Tuesday before Fifth Circuit Court Judge
LIHUE — The defense attorney representing a Lihue man charged with murder has withdrawn as his counsel.
Dressed in an orange Kauai Community Correctional Center jumpsuit, a cleanly shaven Francisco Keola Manuel, 37, appeared Tuesday before Fifth Circuit Court Judge Randal Valenciano and stood beside his former attorney, Mark Zenger.
Zenger had filed a motion to withdraw as counsel, to which Manuel agreed.
“My client transmitted a letter to me that created an irreconcilable conflict of interest,” Zenger told The Garden Island. “I cannot at this point disclose the substance of that letter.”
Defense Attorney Manuel Guerrero will now represent Manuel.
Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar said the state is ready to proceed as normal and Manuel’s new defense team shouldn’t affect anything.
Manuel is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly killing Gary Allen Allianic during a knife fight in the early hours of Sept. 26. He is also charged with second-degree assault for allegedly stabbing his pregnant girlfriend during the same fight.
Manuel’s trial is set for Feb. 1 before Judge Valenciano.
