JUST WEEKS BEFORE HE’S DUE TO GO ON TRIAL FOR THE DEATH OF 10 YEAR OLD VICTORIA MARTENS, SUSPECT FABIAN GONZALES IS APPROVED BY A JUDGE MONDAY TO SWITCH LAWYERS. GONZALES, WHO’S 33, REQUESTED THE CHANGE AND GOT IT, BUT THE JUDGE ADVISED HIM STRONGLY THAT HE CANNOT COMPLAIN THAT … IF HE’S FOUND GUILTY … THERE WASN’T ENOUGH TO PREPARE FOR THE CASE.
GONZALES AGREED TO WAIVE THE CLAIM. THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL REPORTS JUDGE CHARLES BROWN TOLD GONZALES MONDAY THAT WHILE DEFENDANTS HAVE A RIGHT TO COUNSEL, THEY DON’T HAVE A RIGHT TO THE LAWYER OF THEIR CHOICE.
GONZALES FACES CHARGES OF CHILD ABUSE RESULTING IN DEATH AND TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE.
