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April 3, 2008

Convicted killer Alfred Bishop loses his lawyer

Alfred "Freddie" Bishop, a man who spent 33 years in prison for gunning down a friend and now faces another murder charge, will have to find a new lawyer.

Bishop's lawyer, Paul DiMaio, withdrew from Bishop's murder case today.

DiMaio moved to withdraw, a motion that had been scheduled for hearing today and was granted by Judge William E. Carnes Jr. in Kent County Superior Court, according to Michael Healey, spokesman for Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch.

DiMaio cited his client's lack of resources to have scientific testing performed and to hire technical expertise to defend the case effectively, according to Healey.

Bishop's case has been referred to the public defender's office, Healey said. The next court date is April 10, a determination of attorney conference. That is to see if Bishop qualifies for representation from the public defender's office, meaning the office will have to check whether there is a conflict of interest. If there is, then the court would appoint a lawyer.

Bishop pleaded innocent to the murder charge on Feb 22.

The Warwick police allege that Bishop, who had been on parole for about 10 months, shot and killed Gabriel Medeiros, 35, during a home invasion last June and wounded his brother and sister-in-law.

The police allege that Bishop entered the house at 43 Warwick Lake Ave. just after midnight wearing a ski mask and carrying a pistol. Caesar Medeiros, 43, confronted Bishop in a hallway and clubbed him twice with a golf club before Bishop wounded him and his wife Claire, 39, according to the police.

Gabriel Medeiros, who was living in the couple’s basement, then tackled Bishop. Bishop allegedly managed to shoot him in the chest, the police said.

Bishop was arrested five days later.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney with Journal archival reports.

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 2:08 PM | Permalink

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alice | April 3, 2008 6:40 PM link

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