Jamaal Mellish and Aiken Aiken have been accused of killing Cpl. Hayden Harris in Byram back in 2020. Harris and Mellish were both soldiers stationed at Fort Drum in upstate New York at the time of the killing. Aiken was under 18 at the time. He has since turned 18 and is facing trial as an adult. Prosecutors allege Mellish kidnapped Harris and with the assistance of Aiken drove him to a wooden area in Byram. Then shot and killed him.
A year ago Mellish told Superior Court Judge Michael Gaus he did not need an attorney saying " No one is willing to fight more than myself." Now two months before his trial is scheduled to begin Mellish has hired defense attorney Joel Harris of Morristown. Gaus approved Mellish's request but warned him not to switch back and fourth from having a lawyer and not having one saying representation is "not a bouncing ball."
Source: Yahoo News
Photo: Getty Images