NORWICH – A Cincinnatus man scheduled to appear in court Monday to begin hearings regarding allegations that he killed his live-in girlfriend’s 16-month-old son, instead asked to dismiss his attorney.

Jason Allen Sherman, 24, of 5223 Piety Hill Road, is charged with first-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault. He was arrested Nov. 10 in connection to the suspicious death of infant Marshall Lee Barber Jr. in the Town of Pitcher.

Police discovered the unresponsive infant in his crib at 109 Loomis Lane at around 7 a.m. He was transported to Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton but was pronounced dead on arrival by emergency room doctors.

The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide following an autopsy finding the cause of death was from blunt head trauma and asphyxiation.

“Your honor, I can’t defend him if he refuses to talk to me,” said appointed public defender Peter J. McBride.

“I want a new public defender. I feel that he is not in my best interest,” said Sherman.