Man accused of murdering brother will get a free lawyer - again.

By ABBY SIMONS, Star Tribune

Last update: May 14, 2009 - 12:15 AM

The man accused of plotting with his girlfriend and sister to kill their older brother and burn his body in a rural Minnesota fire pit will once again have a public defender, a judge ordered Wednesday.

After reviewing documents provided by accused killer Andrew Hawes during a court hearing, District Judge Sharon Hall ruled that Hawes could once again be represented at the public's expense.

In January, the judge dismissed Hawes' attorneys, Bryan Leary and Jennifer Pradt, because, she said, Hawes had too many assets to qualify as indigent.

Hawes, 36, his sister and his girlfriend are charged with first-degree murder in the October 2008 death of Edwin Hawes, 46, of Andover.

Hawes, who represented himself for two court hearings, argued that he wasn't legally able to liquidate or borrow against assets in which he has an interest, including land in western Minnesota where the body was found and a grandmother's Robbinsdale home for which he is listed as a trustee. Hall agreed and reappointed Leary as his attorney.

According to authorities, Hawes, his sister, Elizabeth Hawes, 43, and his girlfriend, Kristina Dorniden, 29, planned Edwin Hawes' death. He was shot with a crossbow, beaten with a bat and run over in the driveway of his Andover home.

By the time authorities searched Andrew Hawes' property in rural Westbrook, Minn., only skeletal remains of Edwin Hawes were left. He was identified through dental records.

Hawes was scheduled to next appear in court May 27. A trial has not been scheduled. He remains jailed in lieu of $2 million bail. Elizabeth Hawes is jailed in lieu of $1 million bail, while Dorniden was released in January after posting $500,000.

Abby Simons • 612-673-4921

Recent North Metro stories

Grand jury to hear testimony on killing by Le Sueur County deputy - May 14, 2009

Grand jury to hear testimony on killing by Le Sueur County deputy - A grand jury will convene Nov. 4 to hear testimony and consider charges in the shooting death of an unarmed Kasota man who was killed this summer by a Le Sueur County sheriff's deputy. More