Auburn, AL – A third attorney has asked to withdraw from representing the man charged with poisoning the Toomer's Corner oak trees on Auburn University's campus.
Montgomery's Jerry Blevins filed a motion to Lee County Circuit Court dated Tuesday citing an ``irreconcilable conflict'' between himself and defendant Harvey Updyke Jr.
Blevins replaced Jerry Hauser, who filed a motion to withdraw from the case because of a potential conflict of interest. His wife, Margaret Fitch-Hauser, is head of Auburn's department of communication and journalism.
The court appointed Hauser Friday after Philip Tyler was allowed to withdraw. Tyler, who also had been appointed by the judge, also cited conflicts - including his former job as an assistant professor at the university.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)