LAS VEGAS — Convicted of first-degree murder and facing a life sentence, so-called Black Widow Margaret Rudin fired her controversial defense attorney Wednesday.

In letters written during and after her nine-week trial and made public at a hearing Wednesday, Rudin accuses lawyer Michael Amador of using cocaine, lying to her repeatedly and hawking a book and movie deal on her life without permission.

"(Y)our actions and behavior greatly concern me, I had reason to believe you are using drugs," the 57-year-old former socialite wrote Amador in a letter dated May 4, just two days after she was convicted of killing her millionaire fifth husband.

Amador, whose zealous but fumbling defense infuriated the trial judge and annoyed the jury, denied using illegal drugs when questioned by Judge Joseph Bonaventure Wednesday. He agreed to step down as her lawyer during the hearing. Lawyers Tom Pitaro and John Momot, Amador's co-counsel during the case, said they would represent Rudin until her sentencing. The public defender will then take over her appellate case.

Bonaventure rescheduled Rudin's sentencing until August. Before imposing the sentence, the judge will hear motions for a new trial. The defense is expected to claim jury misconduct. One of the jurors, Coreen Covacs, now says she was bullied into her guilty vote by the other 11.

During the five days of deliberations, when the public learned through jury notes that Covacs was trying to hold out for acquittal, Amador championed her cause, calling her a "strong woman" and comparing her to his client. After the verdict, he went ahead with a victory party, saying the signs of jury misconduct were so clear that the defense should celebrate.

For Rudin, however, the verdict was a culmination of her disappointment with Amador. During the first week of the trial, she unsuccessfully sought a mistrial because of his ill preparation. And the letters released Wednesday show that, even as Amador mounted her defense, she was wary of his motives.

In an April 8 letter, she wrote that she suspected Amador and his associates were planning to sell her story without consulting her.

"I do not wish for any confidential information given to you or Lisa Nowak to ever appear in print, screenplay or any other commercial use..." she wrote.

Still frustrated a week later, she wrote, "[Y]ou said you're doing a book about my case and when it's made into a movie Andy Garcia or Richard Gere is going to play you. I realized you have somehow written your contracts where you intend to profit immensely from my case!"

In the same letter, she accuses Amador of several other lies, including overstating his dedication to her defense.

"(Y)ou told me you have no other clients, you never go into your office because you spend all your time working on my case and you're being celibate so you can spend all you energy devoted to trial preparation," she wrote. "I let it pass but know you have five new clients plus the murder case out of state; your new girlfriend is a cocktail waitress who you were seen with at MGM and Caesars late at night with recently."

She added, "Lately I have come to believe the lawyer who said to you that everyone is wondering if you're on cocaine as your actions are so irrational compared to your words. You come to court unprepared, tired, pale and looking stressed."

Amador did not return phone calls.