Lumberton, N.C. — A Fayetteville lawyer has been appointed to represent a Cary contractor charged with killing his wife four years ago.

Myron Britt is charged with first-degree murder in the August 2003 shooting death of his wife, Nancy Britt, a Wake County teacher.

Authorities said Myron Britt was in financial trouble and wanted to collect on his wife's $800,000 life insurance policy. Defense attorneys have maintained that the couple was happy and that Myron Britt had no motive to kill his wife.

A June 2006 trial ended in a mistrial when the jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of conviction.

After the trial, two attorneys were appointed to handle the case because Myron Britt claimed he could no longer afford to pay for a lawyer. One of those lawyers was removed from the defense team last month, however, after he told a judge that he and Britt couldn't get along.

Fayetteville lawyer James Parrish has been appointed to represent Britt in his retrial. He will work with Wilmington lawyer Sue Berry.