Collier man accused of murdering family receives new attorneys

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- Two private attorneys will now represent a man accused of murdering his family.

Mesac Damas is charged with killing his wife and their five children in 2009, then fleeing to Haiti.

In court Friday morning, Damas appeared with a new attorney after his public defender requested to be removed from the case last week, citing a conflict of interest.

His new attorney quickly filed to withdraw from the case for the same reason.

“Every client is entitled to conflict free council and so once we had a conflict we had to get off the case,” said Ita Neymotin.

The judge approved that motion and then appointed Kevin Shirley and James Ermacora to take over the case.

They have 90 days to get up to speed on the case.

If convicted, Damas faces the death penalty.