Miguel A. “Mikey” Vega, whose murder trial ended last month in a mistrial after jurors said they could not reach a unanimous decision, will be re-tried in May in New London Superior Court. 

The 31-year-old New London man said during a court appearance Tuesday that he is continuing to reject an offer from the state to plead guilty in exchange for a 35-year prison sentence. He also announced Tuesday morning that he no longer wants to be represented by attorney John E. Franckling, taking Franckling by surprise. 

“I had ineffective counsel,” Vega said. ‘I don’t want to see him again. If he comes to visit, I won’t accept him.” 

Asked if he wanted to represent himself, Vega said yes. 

Vega is being held at the Northern Correctional Institution, a maximum security prison in Somers, on charges that he forced his way into an apartment at 53 Prest St., New London, with an unidentified accomplice on March 3, 2010, and opened fire with a gun. Rahmel Perry, 21, died of gunshot wounds and his friend, Michael Ellis Jr., suffered life-threatening injuries. 

A 12-member jury that heard evidence in the case last month deliberated for about four days before announcing it could not reach a unanimous verdict. State’s attorney Michael L. Regan had called several eyewitness who identified Vega as the man who came into the apartment, pulled a mask away from his face and started shooting. Franckling had emphasized ballistic results, including two different types of shell casings, that indicated there were two shooters in the apartment. 

“Mr. Vega’s comments came out of the blue to me,” Franckling told Judge Barbara Bailey Jongbloed after hearing that his client no longer wanted his services. “I thought we had maintained a very good relationship through the course of this trial.” 

The judge told Vega to think about it and continued the case to Tuesday. She told him it is very difficult to represent oneself at trial, even with assistance from a “standby” attorney. 

“This court had the opportunity to observe Mr. Franckling all through this trial,” Jongbloed said. “Mr. Franckling did an excellent job. There’s no reason to think any other attorney is going to do any better job. Mr. Franckling is one of our most experienced defense attorneys.”

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN