Judge Aileen Cannon complied with Ryan Ruth’s request to act as his own lawyer, but determined that he should also have an alternate
A 59-year-old man accused of planning the murder of his golf course last year could defend himself alone at the trial, according to a federal judge on Thursday (24). Ryan Ruth, resident in Hawaii, will be tried in Florida in September for crimes of attempted murder of a presidential candidate, aggression to a federal agent and firearm -related crimes.
Judge Aileen Cannon complied with Ruth’s request to act as her own lawyer, but determined that he should also have an alternate lawyer. The decision was made one day after the public defenders who were taking care of the case requesting their dismissal, claiming that “the lawyer-client relationship had broken.”
The lawyers appointed by the court stated that Ruth repeatedly refused to meet with them. “It is clear that Mr. Ruth wishes to be represented, and he has the constitutional right to demand it,” they said in a judicial document presented to the judge.
Police arrested Ruth on September 15, shortly after he fled when he was found armed by US secretary agents near the golf course where former President Trump played.
According to court documents, months before arrest, the accused left a box with several letters in the house of an unidentified person. One of the letters, addressed to the “world,” said, “This was an attempted murder against Donald Trump, but I’m sorry to have failed you.”
“I did everything I could and struggled my best,” he added. “Now it is up to you to finish the job; and I will offer $ 150,000 [R$ 828 mil] who can complete it ”.
Routh’s case was the second attempted murder against Trump, then White House candidate last year. The first took place on July 13 at an electoral rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when an armed man opened fire, killing a person and injuring Trump on his ear.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Nátaly Tenório
