Judge grants homicide defendant new attorney

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 11, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

A defendant in the 2007 homicide of Nacarto Gladden will be granted a new attorney.

Don Hancock was found guilty by a jury trial on July 26, 2017. After undergoing a mental observation hearing, Judge Bartnoff found the defendant competent to stand trial. However, due to disagreements between defense attorney Gretchen Franklin and Hancock, Judge Bartnoff allowed Franklin to stop representing the defendant.

According to the defendant, he wanted a new lawyer because Franklin was inefficient. Franklin said Hancock didn’t like her advice, and the situation could not be remedied simply by appointing a new lawyer.

Hancock will be appointed a new attorney on Jan. 26. However, Judge Bartnoff warned the defendant that if the newly appointed lawyer doesn’t agree with him either, she won’t appoint him another attorney.

“We can’t always appoint new people when disagreements occur,” she said.

Hancock was arrested on Aug. 23, 2013, and charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection with Gladden’s death. Gladden was fatally shot on July 17, 2007, and taken to the local hospital where he was pronounced dead.