Sacramento, California (CNN) Joseph James DeAngelo, who police believe is the Golden State Killer, appeared in a California court Friday, but did not enter a plea to the murder charges he faces in the 1978 deaths of Katie and Brian Maggiore.

The 72-year-old defendant was brought into the Sacramento County courtroom in a wheelchair and represented by a public defender.

DeAngelo is "depressed and right now, fragile," attorney Diane Howard told CNN. DeAngelo spoke only a few words at the hearing, telling the judge very slowly in a feeble voice that he would accept a court-appointed attorney.

Howard told reporters that she feels her client has received "unfair press."

"I feel like he's been tried here in the press already," she said.

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