Charleston, South Carolina – The woman charged in a tragic police chase that culminated in downtown Charleston is now representing herself after firing her previous attorney.
Margie Brown appeared in a downtown courthouse on Tuesday afternoon, with 14 motions filed by herself on the docket.
Brown is accused of leading North Charleston Police Department officers on a U-Haul truck chase on April 27 that resulted in a fatal crash in downtown Charleston, killing two and wounding five.
Brown faces charges of reckless homicide, hit-and-run, and refusal to stop for blue lights.
After a brief conversation with her designated attorney, Brown exclaimed in the courtroom, “I hope you heard that. He is fired! “I have not heard from him in 48 days!”
Brown’s attorney, who appeared briefly in court before being discharged, was her fourth since her initial arrest on April 27th, 2025. Brown has filed requests to remove all three of her former counsels.
The attorney who appeared in court on Wednesday stated that the first communication he had with Brown on October 3 was her request to withdraw him as counsel.
Judge J. Cordell Maddox removed him of his duties a few minutes into the hearing when Brown stated that she did not want him as her attorney.
When asked if she wanted another court-appointed attorney, Brown replied, “I want the proof that the state has. That is what I desire. I don’t want another attorney to look at the film and then say I can’t see anything, leaving me in the same situation.”
Jennifer Shealy, Brown’s assistant attorney, told the court, “Essentially, the difficulty here is that this case has a lot of volume in its discovery.”
Shealy cited trouble transporting the case’s evidence, which included dash and body camera footage, to the Charleston County Jail. “The option [the jail] gave us was that maybe we could bring a laptop down there.”
When Shealy listed the allegations against Brown, she contested the hit-and-run charge, claiming, “I was not involved in a hit-and-run.” A hit-and-run requires you to depart the site of the crime. I was arrested at gunpoint and then caught on body camera at the scene of the crime.”
Throughout the session, Judge Maddox deliberated on whether to allow Brown to represent herself.
“I would not represent myself if I had these charges,” Maddox told Brown.
“At this moment, I don’t believe you should, but I don’t see any constitutional reason why you can’t. “I just think it’s dumb,” Maddox stated. “I’ve got something to tell you. “I am being as honest and truthful as I can.” Brown responded, “Yes, sir.”
Brown is defending herself, but she has consented to have a backup lawyer assigned to address any legal issues she may have. Brown will still be solely accountable for representing herself.
Brown’s remaining 13 motions were continued, or delayed, for another court hearing. The majority of those motions involve the disclosure of evidence from the solicitor’s office.
