JACKSON Tenn – District Attorney General Jerry Woodall recused his office from prosecuting John Christie citing 10 reasons.

John Christie was in court on Tuesday for a hearing. Christie is charged with 2nd Degree Murder in the 2013 death of his wife Brittany.

Woodall told Judge Don Allen that after the hearing on Sept. 1 family members contacted his office to express concern on how his office has handled the case.

In a plea agreement with the State John Christie agreed to plead guilty to reckless homicide and tampering with evidence.

Allen rejected the plea agreement after members of Brittany Christie’s family expressed concern that John Christie could be released after 18 months in custody.

Woodall asked Judge Allen to remove his office from the case, telling the judge he had cited 10 reasons in his motion of recusal.

“The family felt mistreated and didn’t like the way we were handling the case and so therefore I had an ethical and moral obligation to recuse my office,” District Attorney General Jerry Woodall said.

Woodall said he did not feel his office would be able to both “satisfy the wishes of the victim’s family and at the same time give the defendant the consideration he is due based upon facts of this case” and his cooperation with prosecutors.

Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Paul Hagerman will be taking over prosecution. Judge Allen set a hearing date for 8:30 a.m. Sept. 22 to hear motions for a change of venue and a possibly motions to reset the trial date. Allen said the trial may be continued after the next motions hearing if Hagerman needs more time to work on the case.

John Christie is scheduled for trial Sept. 29 on a charge of second-degree murder.

Judge Allen said he has only refused the deal from last week and he is willing to hear other possible pleas if they are presented.