Goodine hearing delayed due to attorney change

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The family of the victim in a suspected homicide last year is frustrated with a delay in the proceedings of that case. 

Lawrence Goodine, an ex-Chattanooga cop who previously was acquitted of charges that he abused his role as a police officer in 2008, was in court Tuesday morning for his preliminary hearing on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Kara Akins.

However, the defense attorney that he had previously retained, stepped down from the case two weeks ago.

Furthermore, this information was not shared with the District Attorney’s Office, and new consul was appointed to Goodine this morning.

This will make the family of Akins wait until March for the case to push forward.

Roger Layne, an attorney for the family, said, “The family is frustrated. We had people come from Florida, a sister come from Florida, a sister from California, a daughter from Colorado, come in to see the hearing and hopefully have, not closure, but a step towards a resolution today, and they’re a little frustrated, and I don’t blame them.”

The family will be holding a Celebration of Life for Akins on Saturday.