Judge: Defense lawyers threatened by their client’s family in NYC punk pioneer slay case
By APFriday, March 26, 2010
NYC judge: Lawyers threatened by client’s family
NEW YORK — A judge says relatives of a New York City personal assistant convicted of murdering a former punk-rock manager have threatened defense lawyers.
A Manhattan judge said Friday that members of Natavia (nuh-TAY’-vee-uh) Lowery’s family made “inappropriate” and “threatening” comments to her attorneys outside court Monday. The judge let her switch lawyers Friday. Both she and they have sought to part ways for weeks.
Lowery’s new lawyer, Paul Brenner, says her relatives just wanted to urge her former attorneys to get off the case.
Lowery’s family has said she’ll appeal her conviction in the 2007 killing of Linda Stein. Stein co-managed the Ramones before becoming a high-powered real estate broker.
Lowery faces a sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison.
