Judge Tells ‘House of Horrors’ Murder Suspect to Hire Lawyer
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PHILADELPHIA — Accused “house of horrors” killer Gary Heidnik was told by a judge today to hire himself a lawyer as he appeared in Municipal Court without one for a preliminary hearing.
The hearing was delayed until next Wednesday to give Heidnik, 43, time to hire a lawyer and for prosecutors to consolidate charges. The self-styled preacher is charged with murdering two women and kidnaping and raping four others.
“Where’s my lawyer? Isn’t he here?” Heidnik asked in the courtroom.
A prosecutor told Municipal Judge William Brady Jr. that Heidnik, who police say may have owned about $500,000 in stocks and bonds and three cars, including a Rolls-Royce, should not be provided with a public defender.
Brady agreed that Heidnik has the money and ability to hire a lawyer and he told him to do so.
Heidnik then complained: “They won’t let me use the phones. I can’t get to a phone to call him.”
Heidnik, charged with holding women for months by shackles in his basement as he raped and tortured them, stared straight ahead for most of the proceeding.
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