Texas lawyer calls for better defense counsel for daughter's alleged murderer to preserve Constitution

A Houston attorney who intervened on behalf of his daughter’s alleged murderer to ask for a new, better defense attorney said it was “the hardest thing” he had ever done.

Artist and teacher Maria Tritcio was struck in the head by a stray bullet on Dec. 6, 2020, while with her fiancée at a Palm Beach park – an injury she did not survive. Their marriage was set for New Year’s Eve at the end of the year.

Amari Wellons, then 16 years old, was arrested for shooting the bullet, one of three he fired after pulling out a gun in the midst of a heated argument.

But at his trial Friday, the now-18 year old Wellons’ defense was criticized for negligence by his family, the prosecutors and the victim’s father – Chris Tritico, a well-known Houston attorney and legal analyst for FOX 26, who reported the story.

Wellons’ grandmother, Paula Augustus, plead for a new attorney that would “not play with somebody’s life.”

“If you are going to do it, do it and if not, step down and let someone else do it,” she said, according to FOX 26.

Prosecutors added that the defense attorney had barely communicated with them, the accused and his family.

Then Chris Tritico took the stand and began advocating for Wellons – the man accused of killing his daughter.

"I am not here today asking for him to be acquitted. I expect him to be convicted and appropriately punished, but along the way he needs a lawyer who is going to do the things necessary to protect his rights and I ask you to give him a lawyer who is going to do that, who is going to challenge the state, who is going to protect his interest,” the Houston lawyer said, reports FOX 26.

"Our constitution requires it. It's what we stand for. It's what our justice system requires and demands. And for God's sake, my family, my daughter. It means more than what he is getting,” Tritico added.

The judge quickly terminated the negligent defense lawyer’s participation in the case.

"When a jury says you are guilty, I want it because the facts were there and the law was there, not because somebody didn't do their job," the heartbroken Tritico later told FOX 26, who said the intervention was “the hardest thing” he had ever done.

"And I couldn't sleep at night if that's what happened. It's easy to go through life saying you believe in something, but you get just a few chances in life to stand up for what you believe in."

Wellons is being tried as an adult and faces up to life in prison.

His grandmother hugged and thanked Tritico after the hearing ended. She then left to tend to Ameri’s brother, who was murdered the night before, reports FOX 26.