On Tuesday Matthew Dreibelbis was back in court to discuss new counsel after blaming his public defender for not giving him proper representation, but the tables quickly turned.

Dreibelbis is facing charges including murder and aggravated assault for allegedly shooting Jeremy Cantolina to death in Snow Shoe Township back in August.

Police said Dreibelbis was having an affair with Cantolina’s wife and after finding Cantolina’s lifeless body on his driveway, their investigation led them to Dreibelbis.

Officers said ultimately Dreibelbis confessed and admitted he shot Cantolina “for love.”

But in November Dreiblebis sent a handwritten letter to Centre County Judge Katherine Oliver, explaining that his Public Defender, Deborah Lux, failed to file motions on his behalf to challenge hearsay in the courtroom, failed to help him get work release and ultimately failed to prove his innocence.

At the hearing on Tuesday, Judge Jonathan Grine heard his concerns and quickly shut down Dreibelbis’ claims by pointing out that statements from troopers describing bullets in the victim and the confessions they received are not hearsay.

Judge Grine added that Lux did push for bail modification but someone accused of shooting a person in the head should not be eligible for bail or work release.

He also noted a motion Lux filed for sequestered jury selection and their ability to take notes during trial, all things she believed would help Dreiblebis and his case.

Dreiblebis then responded that knowing her actions he would like to keep her for his defense.

Immediately Lux asked the judge for her removal, stating his letter called her a “liar” and now the “attorney client privilege has been fractured” and she does not want to move forward with representation.

This hearing highlights how important trust is in the courtroom, especially between a defendant and their attorney.

Moving forward, Dreibelbis will receive a new public defender and his case has been pushed to the April term.