A status hearing was set for January 15 in the case of David Markle, the man accused in the 2015 shooting death of Justin Fish, to determine if he will require a new attorney or if a resolution can be reached in the case using a previous attorney.
Markle has had multiple public defenders represent him and Director of the local Department of Public Advocacy Office Brandi Jones says his most recent attorneys have accepted positions elsewhere. Bill Maddux was moved to a different branch and the case went to Jared Smith, who was recently sworn in as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney and therefore can’t oversee the case.
Jones says it’s her hope that Maddux will come back briefly to help finalize a resolution in the case.
She says if he cannot, then they will move to contacting the state office to appoint a new public defender for Markle. Circuit Judge Andrew Self set a status hearing for this coming Tuesday, to determine what action will be taken at that time.
Markle is charged with murder. He allegedly knocked on the door of Fish’s Calvin Drive Home in 2015 and then shot him when he answered. He then allegedly called 911 and told them he committed the crime.