ORLANDO, Fla. _ Accused killer Markeith Loyd appeared in court Wednesday morning with the Miami-based attorney he requested to represent him, Terence "Terry" Lenamon.
Loyd, 41, is accused of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, Dec. 13. He is also charged with murder in the Jan. 9 killing of Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton, who was trying to arrest him.
After his arrest in January, Loyd repeatedly said he wanted to represent himself. But he appeared to change his mind last week, requesting instead that the court appoint Lenamon to the case.
But Judge Frederick Lauten denied the request Wednesday and instead appointed Roger Weeden, a public defender, as official counsel.
Lauten said Loyd could not "pick and choose" his attorney when the state was paying for his defense.
During the hearing, Loyd asked to renew his objections to being required to have standby counsel. Then he got up, said, "I'm done," and deputies rushed over and had him get back in his seat.
Weeden offered alternatives, saying he might be able to request that Lenamon serve a co-chair.
The case will be tried by State Attorney Brad King after Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala was removed from the case by Gov. Rick Scott when Ayala said she would not seek the death penalty in this case or others during her tenure.
