WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., July 7 (UPI) -- A Lake Worth, Fla., teenager convicted of fatally shooting his English teacher has fired his lawyer and will act as his own attorney.
Nathaniel Brazill, 17, was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the murder of Barry Grunow, and would like to reduce that to 15 years, the Palm Beach Post reported Wednesday.
Attorney Jack Thompson of Coral Gables, Fla., confirmed Tuesday he had been fired by Brazill. He said it happened last month.
Thompson is known for battling obscenity and the effects of video games. He said Brazill and the boy's mother objected to his suggestion they use the video games defense.
He also said Brazill and his mother didn't like what he might reveal in court.
Robert Udell, who represented Brazill at trial and is not eligible to be his appeals attorney, said he told Brazill firing his lawyer was a mistake.
Udell said he will file a request with the court to appoint a lawyer to defend Brazill.
