New London Superior Court Judge Hillary B. Strackbein appointed a new attorney Friday to represent accused killer Jean Jacques after one of his attorneys, Peter E. Scillieri, notified the court that he had previously represented an important witness in the case.

Jacques will be represented by New London attorney Sebastian O. DeSantis. His new lawyer will be reviewing the case with him and deciding whether the defense should go forward with a probable cause hearing at which the state would have to prove to Strackbein that it has enough evidence to prosecute Jacques. He is entitled, as a defendant in a murder case, to have such a hearing within 60 days, but on Friday signed a release saying he was willing to waive the time limit.

Jacques, who is being held in lieu of $1.1 million at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institute, had complained at his last court appearance that he suffered a head injury in prison. He told his attorney Friday that he had not yet been seen by a doctor, and Strackbein added a note to his file recommending medical attention.

The 40-year-old Haitian national is accused of fatally stabbing Casey Chadwick of Norwich after serving a 16-year prison sentence for attempted murder.

Chadwick's mother, Wendy Hartling, is outraged that Jacques, convicted of commiting a violent felony, was not deported to Haiti upon his release from prison. She is working with New London attorney Chester Fairlie to reform immigration practices. Fairlie said recently that he and Hartling had a productive meeting with members of the state's congressional delegation.

Jacques' next court date is Nov. 4.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN