A man accused of murdering his step-father a week before Christmas now finds himself in legal limbo.

26-year-old Brandon Noftall is charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of 41-year-old Robert Noftall in the southern shore town of Renews on December 18th.

While they have the same last name, the victim was not Brandon Noftall’s biological father.

Noftall appeared in provincial court this morning by teleconference from Her Majesty’s Penitentiary and was expected to enter a plea.

But the legal aid lawyer he had retained has declared a conflict in the case, leaving Noftall unrepresented.

The court was told he has applied for a legal aid certificate to retain private counsel but the status of that request was unclear this morning.

In addition to the second-degree murder charge, Noftall is also accused of assaulting a woman who was married to the victim, as well as breaking conditions including one that prohibited him from carrying a knife. It is unclear at this time if the woman who was assaulted was Noftall’s mother.

Noftall has not applied for bail and remains in custody pending an update next week on his application for a new lawyer.