Attorney situation still in flux for manslaughter suspect

It still isn’t clear who will represent Desiree Catlett in court if she goes to trial a second time for the 2016 death of her infant son.

The first trial ended in a mistrial after the jury couldn’t come to a verdict on the manslaughter charge.

She is represented by Michael Thompson and Allison Mohon and Thompson said during a court appearance earlier this month that Catlett could no longer afford private counsel or an expert witness she’d need to hire for her defense and that she desires a public defender.

Mohon was able to be in court Wednesday morning and says it may be possible Catlett could retain her. Christian Circuit Judge John Atkins gave all parties another month to determine what can and can’t be afforded.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Katherine Foster reminded Mohon to keep in mind that not being able to hire an expert witness was a topic of a last minute hearing before the first trial.

Catlett’s nine-month old son fell into a bathtub while being bathed at their Evergreen Park Drive home in October, 2016 and emergency responders arrived to find the infant not breathing. The defense has contended his death was a tragic accident, while the Commonwealth attributes the death to wanton neglect.