New attorney for murderer seeking 2nd trial
A Eureka man convicted of a 2019 murder in Rio Dell has been granted a new attorney in the pursuit of a new trial.
On Wednesday, following a Marsden hearing, Judge Kelly Neel relieved defense attorney Andrea Sullivan as counsel for Demetrius Coleman, 40, who in November was convicted of firstdegree murder for the fatal drive-by shooting of 26-yearold Johnny Mack Renfro in Rio Dell on Aug. 29, 2019. A Marsden hearing is closed to the public and intended to allow a defendant to fire his or her court-appointed attorney.
“I have denied the request for Ms. Sullivan to be relieved based upon the Marsden case,” Neel said, “however, I do believe after hearing from Mr. Coleman and Ms. Sullivan, it is appropriate for the court to relieve her as counsel at this time.”
Eureka defense attorney Zachary Curtis was assigned as Coleman’s new attorney earlier this month and said he could continue on in that capacity, though he wasn’t sure how much time it would take him to go through the evidence and determine if a new trial motion was appropriate.
“I am told that there is voluminous materials for me to go over,” Curtis said. “And I don’t have any way at this point to estimate how long it will take for me to do that.”
Coleman appeared in court via Zoom and expressed dissatisfaction with the process seemingly moving in a hurried fashion, but appreciated being able to have Curtis as his new attorney.
“When I’m hearing speeding, hurrying up … getting sentenced and all that — I’m an innocent man, I don’t think it’s appropriate,” Coleman said. “It seems like they’re just trying to hurry up and get me out of here. I feel like my rights have been violated, but I appreciate you guys assigning me Mr. Zach Curtis.”
Neel said Curtis would receive more time before the next hearing if he needed to talk to additional people or do additional investigation.
At Coleman’s trial, the prosecution argued Coleman committed the shooting after Renfro robbed him of his marijuana, following him from Eureka to Rio Dell to commit the crime. Witnesses saw Coleman’s green Honda Accord with a broken rear window at the scene of the crime around when it happened and two other witnesses testified to Coleman dropping the car off at their home around that time.