Two new attorneys will represent the Aurora dentist accused of poisoning his wife after his previous attorney abruptly quit just before jury selection, delaying the murder trial by months.
The case was delayed on Nov. 21 when Denver attorney Harvey Steinberg suddenly withdrew, leaving his former client, 46-year-old James Craig, without representation on the morning his jury trial was set to begin.
Two attorneys from Arapahoe County-based LFM Defense — Lisa Fine Moses and Rob Gerald Werking — took over Craig’s case in a Monday appearance of counsel hearing, according to Eric Ross, a spokesperson for the 18th Judicial District.
Craig will next appear in court on Feb. 14 for a preliminary hearing to address new charges filed in the case, according to court records.
New trial dates have not been set and will likely be determined after Craig’s February hearing, Ross said.
Craig faces seven felony charges, including first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, solicitation to commit first-degree murder and solicitation to commit perjury in the 2023 death of his wife.
His wife, 43-year-old Angela Craig, died on March 18, 2023, from lethal doses of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a decongestant found in over-the-counter eyedrops.
Investigators allege James Craig bought arsenic and cyanide days before his wife was poisoned to death, searched online about how to poison someone, was having an affair and faced financial difficulties.
On the day after Steinberg withdrew, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office added the charges of solicitation to commit murder and solicitation to commit perjury to Craig’s case for allegedly asking two different people, including his daughter, to cover up evidence after his arrest.
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