PITTMAN-Public Defender quits?

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Posted on Thu, Sep. 09, 2004

Public defender quits case of boy accused of killing grandparents

Associated Press

WALTERBORO, S.C. - The lead attorney for a Chester County boy accused of

killing his grandparents removed himself from the trial Wednesday.

Chester County Public Defender Yale Zamore took himself off

Pittman's case during a hearing at the Walterboro County Courthouse, saying

he felt his services were no longer needed.

Even with Zamore's departure, attorneys told Judge Pieper of

ton County they would be ready for the trial to begin in late October

or early November.

The trial has faced several delays, including the original judge stepping

aside because his wife owns stock in Pfizer. The pharmaceutical company

makes Zoloft - the anti-depressant key to Pittman's defense.

In August, Chester County prosecutor Justice stepped down from the

case, citing health problems.

Pittman, who will be tried as an adult on murder charges, has confessed to

shooting his grandfather, 66-year-old Joe Pittman, and his

grandmother, 62-year-old Joy Pittman, while the couple lay in bed on

Nov. 29, 2001.

Pittman's lawyers plan to try to convince a jury that the boy, now 15, was

involuntarily intoxicated by taking Zoloft and did not know right from

wrong.

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Information from: The Herald, http://www.heraldonline.com