Second attorney joins Lawshe death penalty defense team

A Myrtle Beach attorney will help represent a Georgetown County man in a death penalty case that could go to trial later this summer.

Attorney Natasha Hanna is assigned as the second defense lawyer, according to the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Hanna is an attorney with the Hearn, Brittain and Martin law firm in Myrtle Beach.

Hanna joins attorney, Tommy Brittain who will lead the defense for Lawshe.

Georgetown County authorities found 63 year old Juli Blakeley dead inside her home back in September after investigators said someone killed her, then set fire to the home.

Investigators confirmed later that Blakeley was sexually assaulted before her death.

Authorities later named Lawshe a suspect in the case after investigators learned that Lawshe was at the Blakeley home doing repair work, and found evidence that linked Lawshe to the killing, according to deputies.

Authorities spent several days searching for Lawshe until a motorist heard a news broadcast on the radio about the search for the suspected killer and spotted the vehicle investigators said Lawshe would be driving at the Little River swing bridge.

On Oct. 3, 2007, North Myrtle Beach police arrested Lawshe at the bridge.

Lawshe returned to Georgetown County where on Oct. 25, 2007 Lawshe and his attorney asked a circuit court judge to not set bond on him.

Lawshe faces murder, arson, criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping, and burglary.

In March, investigators also charged Lawshe in connection to several other burglaries in Georgetown County.

Prosecutors served Lawshe with notice they plan to seek the death penalty if a jury finds him guilty of the charges against him.

Prosecutors have set a tentative trial date, but a definite date for the Lawshe trial has not been set.