The attorney defending the man accused of murdering then-Auburn football player Jakell Mitchell for over three years was granted his motion to withdraw from the case.

Jerry Blevins filed a motion in Lee Country Circuit Court last week to withdraw from defending Markale Hart due to "an irreconcilable conflict" between the two. Lee County Circuit Court judge Christopher Hughes granted Blevins' motion on Friday and appointed Harold Patrick to serve as Hart's attorney in the case, which has a hearing scheduled for Tuesday morning and is set for a retrial on Feb. 26.

Nearly three years after Mitchell was fatally shot at the Tiger Lodge at Auburn apartment complex on Dec. 14, 2014, Hart stood trial last month but Hughes declared a mistrial due to the jury being unable to reach a verdict and one juror's misconduct.

During a May 2016 immunity hearing, Hart admitted to shooting Mitchell, but claimed it was in self-defense.

Hart is still facing a felony gun charge, DUI, an open container and improper lane change in Tallapoosa County circuit court from his arrest in Dadeville on Feb. 26 of last year, while he was out on bond for the murder charge.

James Crepea is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @JamesCrepea.