Murder trial of teen charged with killing high school teacher resumes
The judge says Philip Chism, 16, is competent to stand trial after the teen refused to enter court on Tuesday.
The murder trial of a high schooler charged with raping and killing his math teacher was set to resume Wednesday with the teenager present in court, a day after the teenager refused to enter the courtroom.
Judge David A. Lowy told the court that 16-year-old Philip Chism was competent to stand trial. The defense concurred with that assessment. The jury will arrive later Wednesday morning after being dismissed abruptly the previous day.
At first, Chism’s attorney said he wanted to waive his appearance in court. But under questioning by the judge, Chism changed his mind and said he did want to sit next to his attorneys as testimony continued
In a deep voice, Chism answered Judge David Lowy’s questions about whether he was on any medications (“yes’’), if he understood the judge’s questions (“yes’’) and if he really didn’t want to be in the courtroom during the trial.
After a pause, he said “no.’’
Chism has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, rape and robbery in the stabbing death of his Danvers High School teacher, Colleen Ritzer, on Oct. 22, 2013.
On Tuesday, defense attorney Denise Regan said Chism was twitching, mumbling and saying he was about to explode as he sat in a holding cell just outside the courtroom at Salem Superior Court.
Lowy then took a brief recess to observe the teenager. Chism was laying on the floor of the cell, muttering with his eyes closed, and wouldn’t respond to anyone’s questions, the judge said.
The court reached out to Dr. Virginia Merritt, the psychiatrist who performed Chism’s previous 20-day competency evaluation in Worcester, to do another, presumably shorter, evaluation.
Chism’s trial was already delayed last month during jury selection when he refused to enter the courtroom and told a psychologist that he was hearing voices and wanted to die. After the 20-day evaluation, the judge deemed him competent to stand trial — meaning he understood the charges against him and could assist in his defense.
During the evaluation at a state hospital in Worcester, Chism was diagnosed with a psychotic disorder and put on medication, his attorney said. Regan admitted in her opening statement that Chism did what he’s accused of, but said he was in the midst of a psychotic break when he killed Ritzer.
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