WASHINGTON – A Georgetown man who claims to be a brigadier general in the Iraqi army and is charged with murdering his 91-year-old wife will represent himself at trial.
During a Friday hearing in D.C. Superior Court, a judge asked questions of 47-year-old Albrecht Muth — currently charged with second-degree murder in the death of Viola Drath — to ensure he is capable of acting as his own lawyer.
When asked how long he’d been in the Iraqi army, Muth said that was classified information with political implications. Muth also said he was dissatisfied with his public defenders in part because they failed to deliver his messages to the White House and Pentagon.
Muth, who initially claimed his wife died of a head injury from a fall, also told the judge Friday that he believes his wife’s death was a “hit” ordered by Iranian agents.
Prosecutors say Muth’s military and political responsibilities are all in his head. The judge warned Muth against representing himself, and then allowed it.
A trial date has been scheduled in October of next year.
WTOP’s Neal Augenstein and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Neal and WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2011 by WTOP and The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
