A Limerick man accused of murdering a business partner has a new lawyer.

Court of Montco

NORRISTON — For the second time since his February arrest, a Limerick Township man accused of killing a township woman who was allegedly his business partner has changed attorneys.

Blair Anthony Watts, 33, of the 600 block of Hunsberger Drive, who was most recently represented by attorneys from the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office, has hired Philadelphia criminal defense attorney Michael Kord to represent him in future court proceedings.

Coard began appearing on Watts’ behalf on April 26, according to county court documents.

Cord told the defense attorneys appointed to represent Watts in late March, James P. He replaced Leon and Benjamin Cooper.

Lyons, then the lead homicide attorney for the public defender’s office, and Cooper, an assistant public defender, replaced Watts’ lead attorney, Christopher Mandracchia, when he was arrested and represented Watts at the March 16 preliminary hearing. Getting out of the case.

The appointment of public defenders was seen as an indication that Watts was weak and could not afford to hire private counsel. Court records show that he was held personally responsible for hiring Cord, which no longer appears to be the case.

First Assistant District Attorney Edward F. McCann Jr. is handling the prosecution.

Watts is charged with first- and third-degree murder, unlawful taking or trafficking and weapons fraud in connection with the alleged killing of 43-year-old Jennifer Brown, who lived in the 1400 block of Stratford Court. Limerick Township. Watts remains in the county jail without bail pending trial.

Judge William R. Carpenter previously scheduled a status conference with prosecutors and defense attorneys for May 25, when he is expected to set a trial date for Watts.

Brown’s body was exhumed in It was found by police shortly after 11 a.m. Jan. 18 in the back of a warehouse in the 200 block of North 5th Avenue in Royersford, investigators said, after warehouse employees were alerted to the scene. .

An autopsy revealed Brown had three broken ribs. Officials said the cause of death was “unspecified homicide,” with compression and asphyxiation, the method attributed to broken ribs.

The investigation began on January 4 when Limerick Police responded to Brown’s Stratford Court to conduct a welfare check at the request of Watts, who told police he was Brown’s friend and business partner and had been unable to contact her. Criminal complaint filed by County Detective Mark Minzola and Limerick Detective Sergeant Paul Marchese.

Police and relatives searched for Brown for two weeks before her body was found.

Watts’ former attorneys argued that prosecutors had no direct evidence to link Watts to the murders and that the prosecution’s case was circumstantial.

Prosecutors said there was circumstantial evidence linking Watts to the crime.

Authorities allege that Watts’ inconsistent statements, cell phone analysis and Redaver’s dog linked human remains or human biological material to the killings in two vehicles used by Watts.