Midtown shooting murder suspect loses lawyer

Meanwhile, Superior Court Judge Kelly A. Lee set a tentative schedule for Thandiwe's murder trial for January 2013.

Thandiwe is accused of killing Brittany Watts in what began a whirlwind lunchtime shooting spree July 15.

Police say he randomly approached Watts, who worked in the Proscenium Building where Thandiwe was a security guard, and fatally shot her in the neck before using her Toyota Prius to escape.

As he left the parking deck, police say Thandiwe shot two other women who worked in the building -- Lauren Garcia, who was subsequently paralyzed, and Tiffany Ferenczy -- as they left for lunch.

Prosecutors have charged him with murder, three counts of felony murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, hijacking a car, aggravated battery and gun possession during the commission of a felony.

Garland took on the case pro bono, or free of charge, but in April requested financial aid from the court to pay for expenses ranging from investigators to expert witnesses, saying Thandiwe was indigent and couldn't afford such expenses.

Lee denied Garland's request, as did the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council, the state agency charged with ensuring that defendants assigned to public defenders office receive adequate representation.

"We had anticipated money from the court or the Public Defender Standards Council," Garland said. "I'm disappointed, but I understand that this is the judge's interpretation of the law" defining indigent defendants.

Thandiwe's case will be turned over to a public defender, but Garland is still offering to help.

"I'm going to offer the public defender to assist in any way they think is helpful," he said. "It's the right thing to do."