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Murder Suspect, Whose Case Prompted Changes To Parole System, To Change Attorneys

Pulaski County Sheriff's Office

A Pulaski County judge is reluctantly allowing an eight-time parole absconder who is charged with murder in Little Rock to be given new public defenders, but declined the man's request to represent himself.

Darrell Dennis is charged in the May 10 kidnapping, robbery and shooting death of 18-year-old Forrest Abrams. Dennis was free at the time despite multiple felony charges and parole violations.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Circuit Judge Chris Piazza on Tuesday rejected Dennis' request to represent himself, but granted the request for new public defenders despite warning Dennis that he was making a mistake.

Dennis said in court that the public defenders had a conflict of interest because they had represented him in another case.

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