North Dakota man accused of killing four people presses to address judge directly

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — A Washburn man accused of killing four people last year interrupted a court hearing Wednesday and asked to speak directly to a judge against the advice of his attorneys.

The hearing at the Morton County Courthouse was set to address motions made by Chad Isaak’s attorneys on suppressing certain evidence and on a change of venue.

The 46-year-old Isaak is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the deaths of RJR Maintenance and Management co-owner Robert Fakler, 52; and employees Adam Fuehrer, 42; and William Cobb, 50, and Lois Cobb, 45, who were married. The victims were found shot and stabbed at the business April 1, 2019.

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Isaak told South Central District Judge David Reich that he wished to address the court, saying he had “waited patiently for 15 months in an isolation jail cell” to bring up some issues, but did not specify those issues, the Bismarck Tribune reported.

One of his attorneys, Rob Quick, later said Isaak wanted to bring up issues that the defense team will address at a future hearing.

Reich told Isaak he could not tell his attorneys how to represent him.

The judge did not immediately rule on the change of venue motion as well as the arguments about warrants used in the search of Isaak’s vehicle, residence, business, person, and electronic devices.

Isaak has been jailed on $1 million bond since his arrest a few days after the killings. Trial is scheduled for Nov. 30.