An Island man accused of murdering his partner is without representation after his Victoria lawyer quit this week.
Traigo Andretti told the court he did not want a lawyer. In May, Judge Brian Saunderson told Andretti to, “work hard at getting a lawyer, you need one badly.”
Andretti was charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Jennifer McPherson, and "improperly or indecently interfering with or offering an indignity to a dead human body."
Andretti, 37, and McPherson, 41, lived on Hanson Island south of Port McNeill where they worked as caretakers at the Hanson Island Fishing Lodge. McPherson went missing May 1 and her remains were found a week later.
On Monday, Roxanne Helme of Green and Helme law firm based in Victoria, recused herself from representing Andretti after telling the Campbell River court that she could not defend him.
Helme said Andretti was giving her conflicting instructions and often changed those instructions drastically.
Both in person and via video link, Andretti has appeared to be in good spirits and not understanding the seriousness of his situation each time he has appeared before a judge.
Judge Saunderson was prompted to ask him “You are charged with murder. You understand that don’t you?” during an in-person hearing in Campbell River shortly after he was arrested.
A legal aid lawyer will be assigned to the case and Andretti is scheduled to be back in court on Aug. 12.
Andretti has also been linked to a Winnipeg woman who has been missing since 2006.
