Niles wants cop's relative as lawyer

David Niles appeared before General Sessions Court Judge Charles Rich Tuesday with Nashville attorney Mickie Daugherty, who has been hired by Niles' family to defend him on charges of first degree murder. However, a written opinion will be required before she will be allowed to represent him due to a possible conflict of interest.
(T-G Photo by Brian Mosely)

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Niles, 24, has been charged with first degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 26-year-old Laura Parker on Jan. 11. He is also charged with unlawful possession of a weapon.

He appeared before General Sessions Court Judge Charles Rich Tuesday afternoon with Nashville attorney Mickie Daugherty.

But Rich and assistant district attorney Richard Cawley voiced concerns about a possible conflict of interest due to the fact that Daugherty's sister is married to Sgt. James Wilkerson of the Shelbyville Police Department -- one of the officers who pulled Niles over five minutes after the shooting took place.

Niles is currently represented by the public defender's office.

Rich advised Daugherty that not all conflicts of interest can be waived and that he wants to make sure everything "is done in the right way" in Niles' case.

Cawley also said that while it is his job to prosecute crimes, they have to look out for the rights of defendants as well and the DA said they have concerns about the possibility of Daugherty having to cross-examine a member of her family.

Rich also commented that the situation could cause uncomfortable family gatherings at Thanksgiving.

But Daugherty said she has already spoke to the Board of Professional Responsibility for the Supreme Court of Tennessee, which upholds standards of skills and conduct for attorneys in the state, and she told Rich that they saw no conflict in the matter.

The Nashville attorney also said that she wouldn't have any problem cross-examining her brother-in-law on the stand.

Daugherty also said that Niles has also signed a waiver for her to be substituted as his lawyer, but Rich said he wanted to see a written advisory opinion from the board before granting the request to substitute attorneys.

Cawley told the T-G that his office has yet to see Niles' signed waiver in the matter.

Niles was arrested last Monday, no more that five minutes after gunshots were reported at Forest Hills Apartments on Neeley Avenue around 8:30 p.m., where the body of Parker was discovered lying in a pool of blood near her car, approximately 10 feet from the front door of her apartment.

Niles' car, a white Nissan Sentra, matched the description of a vehicle seen leaving the apartment complex, and he was pulled over by Shelbyville police officers Lt. Jason Williams and Wilkerson, who discovered a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol in Niles' possession.

Detective Brian Crews said that Niles stated he had a firearm, but that officers had no idea at the time he was the suspect in the murder.

Crews said that Niles claimed that he and his wife "had been into it and he went into the country to fire some shots off." However, when officers began questioning him, Niles invoked his right to an attorney.

Detective Charles Merlo said last week that since Niles asked for a lawyer, they have not been able to question him.

Crews explained that Niles is married to another woman, and has never been married to Parker.

There is also no record of any domestic violence calls involving Niles and Parker, Crews said.