During a status hearing April 11, a DC Superior Court judge granted a motion for a defense attorney to withdraw from a murder case.
Mark K. Bowser is charged with first-degree murder while armed and obstruction of justice for allegedly stabbing 39-year-old Tracy Womack on the 4600 block of Benning Road, SE in 2014. Bowser, 39, is currently being held without bail.
Judge Todd Edelman granted defense attorney Jason Tulley’s motion to withdraw due to a conflict of interest. According to DCCourts, Tulley filed the motion on March 22.
Apparently, an unredacted document that was examined by the defense revealed names that created a conflict of interest for Tulley. The context of the conflict of interest was not made clear in court.
The court appointed Betty Ballester as Browser’s new defense attorney.
“You can’t have a lawyer who is representing someone with conflicting interests,” Judge Edelman said.
According to court documents, Bowser allegedly entered Womack’s apartment as she was sleeping and attacked her. Police found Womack with her pants pulled down, suffering from more than 40 stab wounds.
Bowser is scheduled for a trial readiness hearing on April 19.
