A man who is accused of driving his twin daughters off Sunset Cliffs and who earlier won his right to represent himself has withdrawn his request and is now represented by a public defender.

The trial of Robert Duane Brians, 50, was to have started Sept. 12, but the new attorney asked for some time to prepare, so the trial date was re-set for Feb. 21, 2024.

Brians won his right to represent himself some months ago, but he changed his mind in San Diego Superior Court, according to the prosecutor.

Brians had some dispute with his ex-wife and wanted to punish her by killing the children. He wrote on Facebook “tonight I’m sending my babies to heaven” about 30 seconds before driving off the cliff.

He is charged with two counts of the following: attempted murder, kidnapping, child abduction, making criminal threats, felony child abuse, and child endangerment in the June 13, 2020 incident in which he drove off Sunset Cliffs with the 2-year-old twin girls at 4:30 a.m.

Miraculously, everyone survived, even though his truck smashed upside down on a rock with the cab underwater. Brians was seen holding the girls outside on the rocks.

Officer Jonathan Wiese climbed down the cliffs with a 100-foot dog leash. An ambulance took both girls to the hospital, as both girls had serious injuries. Hailey Brians could not breathe on her own initially due to head trauma.

Brians is also charged with inflicting domestic violence on his former spouse, Jenna Brians, and burglary when he took the girls away. Robert Brians was not under the influence of alcohol, according to a blood test taken after his arrest, said a detective.

Brians remains in jail without bail. He has pleaded not guilty and waived his right to have a speedy trial.