The man accused in the slaying of another at a Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»rooming house has lost his lawyer during the case’s preliminary inquiry.
Jorge Marquez Medina, 67, is charged with the murder.
Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»police said they were called on Jan. 17, 2023, to reports of a shooting inside the West Hotel rooming house near East Hastings and Carrall streets.
Inside, officers found the body of 20-year-old Thunder Dennis of Chase, B.C.
Preliminary inquiries are held to determine if enough evidence exists to proceed to trial. They're covered by a publication ban so as not to taint a possible jury pool if an accused elects trial by B.C. Supreme Court judge and jury.
The inquiry for Marquez-Medina began in May.
However, defence lawyer Jim Heller appeared before Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»Provincial Court Judge Jay Solomon June 13 asking to be removed as counsel from the file.
Solomon agreed and set the next hearing for June 20 for Marquez-Medina to say who his new lawyer is.
Marquez-Medina told Solomon Heller wasn’t representing him properly.
He said he has been calling legal aid for assistance in finding new counsel.
“I was expecting to have a new one today,” Marquez-Medina told Solomon in the video appearance.
Judge Kathryn Denhoff was hearing the preliminary inquiry.
The accused remains in custody.