People v. O'Neill

Appellant was charged with the crime of robbery with two prior convictions of felonies for each of which he served a term of imprisonment in the state prison. Upon his arraignment he was without counsel and the public defender was appointed by the court to represent him. Subsequently, with his counsel present, he pleaded not guilty and denied the prior convictions. Several days before the day set for his trial, pursuant to appellant’s personal request made in open court, the public defender was relieved from- further service as his counsel and thereafter he appeared in propria persona. When…