Trial delayed in man accused of killing Fort Myers police officer Adam Jobbers-Miller

Judge Robert J. Branning ruled Friday the lawyers representing a man accused of killing a Fort Myers Police officer can quit.

He also appointed a new lawyer to the case as Branning weighs whether the defendant can represent himself.

Wisner Desmaret was in court Thursday afternoon, September 1, 2022. He is accused in the shooting death of Fort Myers Police Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller. Wisner Desmaret, who police said was fleeing in a suspected theft of a cellphone, is accused of grabbing Jobbers-Millers gun during a scuffle and shooting him in the head on July 21, 2018. He faces the death penalty. In denying repeated offers from Judge Robert J Branning for new council Desmaret is now asking to represent himself.

Lawyers Andrew Crawford and Richard Watts, through the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, have represented Wisner Desmaret, 33, since 2018. He faces multiple charges in the case, including first-degree murder in the slaying of Adam Jobbers-Miller.

Desmaret is accused of killing Jobbers-Miller on July 21, 2018.

Jobbers-Miller was pursuing Desmaret for the alleged theft of a cell phone when Desmaret grabbed the officer’s gun during a scuffle and shot him, according to police. Jobbers-Miller died days later at Lee Memorial Hospital from his injuries.

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New defense

The order signed by Branning appoints Lee Hollander as counsel for the defense. Hollander did not immediately return calls asking for comment.

Desmaret, who also was shot in the scuffle, almost immediately acquired Crawford and Watts as his defense counsel, four years ago.

Crawford and Watts submitted a motion Wednesday asking to withdrawal from the case, citing a conflict of interest, with Branning hearing it on Thursday.

Psychological review

Branning also appointed a psychiatrist, Keegan Culver, on Friday to determine whether Desmaret has made a “knowing and intelligent” choice to waive counsel and doesn’t suffer from “severe mental illness to the point where” he can’t  conduct trial proceedings himself.

The judge noted that the court already twice found the defendant competent to proceed.

Desmaret repeatedly said he would like to represent himself at trial.

“God is my lawyer,” he told Branning at a hearing on Thursday. “I represent myself. If God is with me, who can be against me?”

Story continues

The verse is an interpretation of a verse out of Romans 8:31 in the New Testament.

Coming next

Culver’s report is due by Oct. 1; with a trial call on Oct. 6 that could determine whether Desmaret can proceed with self-representation.

Desmaret also will be in court at a 4 p.m. Tuesday status hearing. The trial, once scheduled for Tuesday, is removed from Branning’s calendar.

Stacey Henson is the breaking news and visuals editor for The News-Press  and Naples Daily News. You may reach her at shenson@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: New lawyer appointed for man accused of killing Fort Myers officer