Suspect in Briton slay changes legal counsel

CEBU - The man accused of killing a British national who married his former girlfriend already sought for the counsel of the Public Attorney’s Office after deciding to change his lawyer.

This after the parents of suspect Jude Dayota expressed dissatisfaction on the performance of his former counsel, lawyer Glenn Tabon, in handling the murder case.

Regional Trial Court Branch 9 Judge Geraldine Faith Econg has granted Dayota’s motion yesterday. His new legal counsel now is lawyer Baby Landero.

Lawyer Jerry Robertson Mira, who was present in the hearing yesterday for Dayota, said that they “intend to change the earlier theory of the case and will interpose a different theory.”

However, it is not clear yet as to what their next move would be. A hearing is set on February for the matter.

Earlier, Tabon, questioned Dayota’s warrantless arrest because it was “done 12 days after the crime was committed and no longer constitutes a hot-pursuit operation.”

He wanted to file a motion to quash the information on the ground that his client’s arrest was illegal.

Dayota was charged for the July 24 murder of Briton Luke Isaacs, who was shot dead while walking home in a village in barangay Lipata, municipality of Minglanilla.

The wife of Isaacs positively identified Dayota as one of three motorcycle-riding men who grabbed the bag of her husband. When Isaacs resisted, he was shot dead allegedly by Dayota. — Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)