Man wants to defend himself in fatal Wisconsin parade attack

A man accused of killing six people and injuring dozens of others by driving an SUV through a Christmas parade in Wisconsin last year wants to represent himself in a trial that is scheduled to begin in a little more than a week.

Darrell Brooks Jr.'s public defender, Jeremy Perri, filed a motion in Waukesha County Circuit Court Thursday requesting that he and assistant public defender Anna Kees be taken off the case because Brooks wants to represent himself.

A hearing on the motion has not yet been scheduled. But, if granted by Judge Jennifer Dorow, it could affect the Oct. 3 start date for Brooks' trial on six homicide counts and about 70 other charges. Four weeks has been set aside for the trial, according to the court calendar.

The motion is the latest development in a case that has seen some twists and turns. Brooks changed his not guilty plea last June to not guilty by reason of mental disease and defect, but two weeks ago withdrew the insanity defense.