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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

New lawyer to represent Taylor in trial

Pre-trial adjourned to later date

By Dan DuChene, Staff Writer

PUBLISHED: December 27, 2007

Orange Amir Taylor III, accused of murdering Eastern Michigan University student Laura Dickinson, will be represented by a public defender at his new trial.

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At a pre-trial hearing last week, Taylor stood before Judge Archie Brown without representation and requested a public defense attorney. Laura Graham, assistant public defender for Washtenaw County, stood on his behalf.

After approaching the bench, Graham requested the pre-trial be adjourned for a later date. Brown upheld her request and scheduled another pre-trial for Jan. 9.

Taylor is being held by Washtenaw County on charges of open murder, criminal sexual conduct, larceny from a building and home invasion related to the December 2006 death of Dickinson.

Discovered in her dorm room on the fifth floor of Hill Hall, Dickinson's death, and the later cover-up by former administrators at the university, led to a scandal which garnered attention from several national media outlets. The university was found in violation of the federal Clery Act and may have to pay $350,000 in finds as a result.

Last week, the school settled a potential lawsuit from the Dickinson family with a $2.5 million payout.

Taylor had been represented by Detroit attorney Alvin Keel since his preliminary examination in March. Taylor stood trial in October, but after a week of testimony and three days of deliberation, the jury couldn't reach a verdict and Brown declared a mistrial.

Taylor's new trial is scheduled for Jan. 26, but may be delayed by the change of attorneys.

"We'll just have to see," said Brian Mackie, Washtenaw County prosecutor, after the pre-trial.

"There's a lot of evidence for the defense to go over," he said.

If the trial is delayed, Mackie said it would be at the request of the defense.

Quatrina Stewart, legal clerk for the Washtenaw County Public Defender's Office, said Graham would likely be assigned to the case, but that could change at the request of superiors in the office.

Keel filed to be relieved of representing Taylor on Dec. 6, Mackie said. He could not comment on the reason behind the move. The file on the proceedings has been suppressed, according to staff at the court clerk.

Though Taylor's parents were at the proceedings today, they did not wish to comment on the matter.

Contact Staff Writer Dan DuChene at 697-8255 or at dduchene@heritage.com