A teen charged in a murder in North Chattanooga has been allowed to fire his attorney of nine months.
Briston Smith Jr., who was 18 when he was charged in connection with the killing of Charles Holsey, 19, said he was dissatisfied with attorney Meredith Ziebold.
Judge Barry Steelman allowed attorney Ziebold to go off the case, though he told Smith it would mean he would not get a trial until next year.
Attorney Brian Pearce was named to take over the case. Judge Steelman said since attorney Pearce is getting married in a couple of weeks that he would not be able to meet with Smith very soon.
Smith was upset that attorney Ziebold had advised him that it was not in his best interest to seek a bond reduction. A bond hearing had been set for Monday, but it was called off.
Smith said he has a 15-month-old son "I would like to meet." He asked that he get a bond in the range of $100,000 to $200,000 and be placed on a GPS monitor. His current bond is $700,000.
Judge Steelman said if he could make a large bond, then he would not be eligible to be appointed a free attorney.
The judge said the case against Smith was strong and he was facing a possible life prison sentence based on the limited information he had.
Prosecutor Cameron Williams said a witness in the car with the victim said Smith yelled, "Shoot him. Shoot Him" when Holsey would not give up some drugs.
Smith earlier admitted taking part in the drug deal, but said he turned and left when Abram Young allegedly fired shots after Holsey refused to turn over marijuana he was demanding. He said he stated at the time, "It's not worth killing anybody over."
He said he then heard "Pow. Pow."
Smith earlier said it was his idea to carry out the robbery, but he said Abram Young was the one with the gun and "was the one doing all the talking."
Smith said the group had $100 and Holsey was asking $160 for the marijuana.
Smith also said that he got in touch with Holsey by mistake. He said he meant to text someone else and hit one wrong digit. He said he continued texting with Holsey, however, and they arranged to meet.
At one point in a police interview Smith said, "You're trying to get me for murder."
The detective replied, "We've already got you for murder."
General Sessions Court Judge Gary Starnes earlier said there was a strong likelihood of conviction on the murder case and raised the total bond for Smith from $200,000 to $700,000.
He is facing charges of felony first-degree murder, conspiracy, and attempted especially aggravated robbery.
The incident happened March 2, 2015, behind a gas station at 310 Sylvan St.
Holsey drove off after being shot. He hit another vehicle in the 700 block of North Market Street.
Detective Chris Blackwell said a fairly large amount of marijuana was found in the car. He said nothing was taken from Holsey.
Smith was interviewed in Catoosa County, where he had been arrested on drug charges.
He said in the interview that after the incident he threw his cell phone into the Tennessee River.
He said others involved included Young, who was 17 at the time but whose case was transferred to adult court, and Robert Thompson, 18. All three face murder charges.