Attorneys for kidnapping suspect request withdrawal

Anthony Bruno, one of Christensen's attorneys. [Photo/Xinhua]

Attorneys representing Brendt Christensen, who was charged with kidnapping of the missing Chinese scholar Zhang Yingying filed a motion on Friday, requesting to withdraw from representation of the client.

The attorneys indicated that they reached the agreement with the suspect when he was arrested under the charge of kidnapping that the payment will be increased if the prosecutors pursue higher charges.

According to the US Attorney's Office, the government raised the possibility that a superceding indictment with additional charge could be filed before the case goes to trial during a hearing on Aug 28.

However, the suspect and his family could not offer the payment requested by the attorneys. So they agreed that the suspect would be represented by a court-appointed lawyer and the motion will be viewed in court on Sept 8.