Dept. Sandeep Dhaliwal: Murder trial on hold after defendant Robert Solis demands judge resign

HOUSTON, TX (KTRK) — There was another bombshell in the trial of Robert Solis, who is accused of murdering Harris County Assemblyman Sandeep Dhaliwal.

The court is on hiatus after Solis, who is representing himself in his own murder trial after his lawyers were fired, is now trying to replace the judge.

SEE MORE: A man accused of killing Deputy Dhaliwal fires his lawyers shortly before capital murder trial

He asked for a walkout on Friday, which was a day marked by delays.

Before testimony even began, Solis told the judge that he was going to faint because of his poor health.

Judge Chris Morton said Harris County Jail officials are responsible for monitoring his health and admonished Solis.

“Don’t try to tamper with this dish. Don’t try to manipulate the media present in this court. This is a court,” Morton told Solis.

Prosecutors rested in the afternoon after four and a half days of testimony, which included showing jurors both dashboard and body camera videos of Deputy Dhaliwal’s murder.

During Friday’s testimony, Solis asked an investigator, “If it was my intention to kill Deputy Dhaliwal and I had three rounds on me. Why should I wait until I’m right behind him?”

SEE ALSO: Dept. Dhaliwal murder suspect interrogates MP who arrested him

“They took advantage of the fact that he was single. They mistook his kindness for weakness,” the investigator replied.

Just before his opening statement, Solis asked the judge to acquit him. This request was rejected.

His opening statement lasted just 50 seconds and began: “I stand before you as an innocent man until you all go back there and ponder and determine whether the state has discharged its burden, whether I have intentionally and knowingly, deliberately, purposefully fired that deputy.” .”

SEE ALSO: Robert Solis Murder Trial: Jury Hears Testimony Over DNA Evidence

Solis seemed emotional as he said, “I don’t want to take up any more family time, but I think I can show that I had no intention of killing that man.”

Then Solis called two witnesses. The first was a neighbor who testified that Solis called him, admitted shooting a deputy, and asked for a ride.

“I told him he was dead and I wanted nothing to do with it,” the neighbor testified.

Solis then asked his second witness, “Do you understand that they are trying to put the death penalty on me? Do you know that?”

Testimony is scheduled to continue Monday morning.

READ MORE: Deputy shooting schedule: What we know about what happened

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