Local News in Brief : Attorney Taken Off Case
The trial of a North Hollywood man charged in the bombing deaths of two police demolition experts has been postponed after a judge removed the defense attorney from the case.
San Fernando Superior Court Judge John H. Major removed Pierpont M. Laidley after he asked the court for more money to prepare a defense for Donald Lee Morse.
Laidley said he has spent $143,000 to investigate the case. But Deputy Dist. Atty. Sterling E. Norris said Laidley has spent more than $250,000, which he called “an atrocious amount.”
Morse appointed the Los Angeles County public defender’s office to represent Morse and put off the trial, which was to begin next week, to give attorneys time to familiarize themselves with the case.
Morse, 38, is charged with two counts of murder in connection with the Feb. 8, 1986, deaths of Los Angeles Police Detectives Arleigh McCree, 46, and Ron Ball, who were killed while trying to dismantle one of two pipe bombs found in Morse’s garage.
Laidley said he plans to ask the California Supreme Court to reinstate him as Morse’s attorney.
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