May 27, 2008 6:07 pm US/Eastern
Teen Competent To Stand Trial For Gough Murder
14-Year Old Jaime Gough Was Stabbed To Death In 2004
Classmate Michael Hernandez Will Stand Trial
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
A South Florida teen accused in the grisly murder of a classmate in a school bathroom has been found competent to stand trial.
A pair of court-appointed experts reported to Miami-Dade Circuit Judge John Schlesinger on Tuesday that despite indications of continuing mental illness, 18-year-old Michael Hernandez is able to understand legal proceedings, assist his lawyer and comprehend the consequences of a first-degree murder conviction.
"At this time, Mr. Hernandez is competent to proceed," said psychologist Ralph Richardson, who examined Hernandez last week.
Judge Schlesinger agreed with the psychologists and ruled Hernandez competent to stand trial jury; jury selection could begin as early as this week.
Prosecutors offered a plea deal of 50 years in prison which was rejected by Hernandez's attorney Richard Rosenbaum.
Herandez, who once claimed he trained to become a serial killer, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the stabbing death of 14-year-old Jaime Gough in a school bathroom. Hernandez, who was also 14 at the time, confessed in a statement videotaped by police. Gough had more than 40 stab wounds to his neck, face and hands when he was killed. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison.
During their investigation police found Hernandez's journal in which they say he wrote out a detailed plan for the murder, and had a "hit list" of other potential victims including his older sister.
Rosenbaum claims Hernandez suffers from schizophrenia. During Tuesday's hearing he pointed out some of Hernandez's more recent odd behaviors; including extremely detailed and ritualistic teeth-brushing and hand-washing, and his refusal to allow jail personnel to wash his prison jumpsuits. He said Hernandez also obsesses about "characters" he created with names like "Stopper" and "Penny."
During Tuesday's testimony, the court appointed psychologists said while they saw no signs of deep psychosis they did note that Hernandez exhibits symptoms of anxiety, depression and serious obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Court appointed psychologist Vanessa Archer told the judge Hernandez is "seriously mentally ill" and has suffered from delusions; but she also found him highly intelligent and competent for trial.
"I think there's been a break in reality at some point for Michael Hernandez," said Archer, who also examined Hernandez in
2004.
While Hernandez has generally stayed out of trouble in jail, earned a high school diploma in January and was previously been found competent for trial, the judge order this latest evaluation after the teen was placed on new medication by jail doctors.
If Hernandez were found not guilty because of insanity, he would likely be committed to a state mental hospital but could be released at some future date if his mental condition improves.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Helpful Pages at CBS4.com
