A Spokane murder case has been delayed again after a judge removed two defense attorneys who had sought repeated postponements on the eve of trial. The ruling came after Spokane County Superior Court Judge Jacquelyn High-Edward sharply criticized public defenders Stephanie Cady and Lindsey Wheat for conduct she said undermined the court, their client, and the justice process.
The case involves Cynthia L. Khaleel, 39, who faces first-degree aggravated murder charges in the death of her ex-boyfriend, Justin Daniel, 40. Prosecutors say Daniel was stabbed 48 times and shot three times after he called police on April 13, 2024, to report that Khaleel had come to his home despite a no-contact order.
Judge says defense conduct forced a removal
High-Edward said the removal of Cady and Wheat was necessary even though it will push the trial back again. In her written order, she said the attorneys’ actions “ends one of the most shocking campaigns to frustrate the justice system seen by this Court,” and described their behavior as a serious breach of duty.
The judge said the two attorneys filed four motions to continue and two motions to withdraw over a four-week period. She also said both motions to withdraw were filed on the morning the trial was set to begin, adding to a long list of delays in a case that has already been postponed more than 10 times.
Repeated delays and shifting trial dates
According to the court order, Wheat later went on paid leave without notice to Khaleel after the judge denied the defense motions. Cady had already gone on leave on March 29 when the trial had been scheduled to start on May 4, and Wheat then sought more time before going on leave herself before May 18, the latest trial start date.
High-Edward wrote that Khaleel appeared “stunned, confused, and terrified” when she learned what was happening and felt she had no choice but to ask for new counsel. The judge said the defense behavior had been “evasive, obstructionist, litigious, and contemptuous” since March 27, and found that the requests for delay had no factual or legal basis.
A case tied to earlier accusations and a custody dispute
Khaleel’s case has drawn attention before. She had previously been acquitted by a jury in 2018 in a different homicide case, in which prosecutors accused her of fracturing the skull of her 5-year-old adoptive nephew, Gary Blanton III, in 2015.
The Daniel case arose during a legal dispute between the former couple over their 3-year-old daughter. A month before the killing, Daniel had been granted full custody, and court records say he later called police after Khaleel came to his home in violation of the no-contact order.
When deputies arrived at the home in April 2024, they found Daniel dead. Khaleel was later arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated murder, a charge that carries the possibility of life in prison without parole.
Next steps after the courtroom clash
The removal of Cady and Wheat will delay the case further, but the court said there was no practical alternative after the breakdown in representation. Prosecutor Dale Nagy could not immediately be reached for comment, while Spokane County prosecutor spokeswoman Julie Humphreys said the ruling would allow the case to move toward a realistic trial date.
Victoria Blumhorst, who leads the Counsel for Defense office, said it was unfortunate that the case reached this point. She argued that prosecutors and judges without criminal defense experience should not dictate when defense counsel is ready for trial, especially in a high-stakes case, while the prosecutor’s office said it generally avoids commenting on pending matters.
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