New Orleans jail escapee Lenton Vanburen Jr. appeared in court Thursday for the first time since the historic jailbreak earlier this month, asking the court to represent himself in a trial centering on a 2021 New Orleans East shooting that left one man dead.

Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Robin Pittman said she would accept Vanburen's request to defend himself despite opposition from his current defense attorney, Tanzanika Ruffin, who said she believes Vanburen is making a mistake.

"I would still like to be his attorney," Ruffin said.

Pittman said she would keep a defense attorney in waiting in case Vanburen decided he wanted

Before his escape, Vanburen was charged with second-degree murder in connection with a November 2021 fatal shooting in the parking lot of a shopping

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