Defending himself in court backfires for Jacob Klein

Jacob Klein choose to represent himself at trial, but had two defense attorneys on standby.

One of them, Mark Bederow, told NewsChannel 13 after the verdict that defendants who chose to defend themselves are operating without a net and making their own choices.

Bederow said it was a “terrible” experience for an attorney having to watch the trial but not say anything on the record.

“I’ve been doing this for 25 years, along with co-counsel who has been doing it for more than 40, and to have to sit there and in essence do nothing other than whisper in a client’s ear, from a lawyer’s perspective, is very frustrating,” he said.

Bederow said Klein expected the outcome given the relatively quick time the jury deliberated.

“Obviously, it’s never ideal for anyone to represent themselves, particularly a non-lawyer in a high-profile murder case,” Bederow added. “For someone who had no experience, all things considered, he handled himself well.”