On Monday, a judge agreed to allow a Florida man to represent himself during his upcoming trial for killing an Orlando police officer.
Markeith Loyd, who is currently serving a life sentence for killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend, filed a handwritten motion to proceed pro se. Pro se is a legal term meaning to represent one’s self. His legal time, Terence Lenamon and Ted Marrero, will remain on as standby counsel if needed.
His attorneys have said Loyd will use an insanity defense in his current case. He will also argue that Clayton pulled her gun first, and he acted in self-defense.
“I don’t think there is any question that he’s the one that shot Sgt. Clayton. That’s not really the issue. The issue is that number one, we have insanity, mental health issues that complicate everything,” Lenamon said after Loyd’s previous conviction.
Loyd, 45, pleaded not guilty to murdering Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton. She tried to arrest him in 2017 at a Walmart while he was on the run for the murder of his ex, Sade Dixon.
Clayton had the ranking of master sergeant at the time of her death. She was posthumously awarded a promotion to lieutenant at her funeral.
He was convicted of first-degree murder for killing Dixon and their unborn child. Loyd is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Loyd faces the death penalty if convicted of killing Clayton. His trial is scheduled to begin in October.
