Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Sandra Yi ReportingFor the second straight day, Brian David Mitchell was removed from a courtroom for shouting and singing. These outbursts have had him hauled out of competency hearings now five times.
The hearing was expected to wrap up today, but it's lasting longer than anyone expected. They've actually scheduled more hearing dates for July.
Brian David Mitchell was only in the courtroom for about 15 seconds this morning, before he shouted, "Awake, arise, O Virgin daughters of Zion. Come forth unto the marriage, suffreth the lamb." Then he burst into song, "Repent, repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven's at Hand".
The state's expert witness, Dr. Noel Gardner, was on the stand all morning. He says Mitchell is competent to stand trial. The defense tried to discredit some of his testimony today. Gardner tried to interview Mitchell two years ago. Defense attorneys played 15-minute long videotape of that meeting, which shows the two sitting face-to-face.
Mitchell didn't say a word, but Gardner said Mitchell maintained intense eye contact -- something most schizophrenics can't do, and tried to psychologically intimidate him. "I can tell you I was uncomfortable," Gardner said.
The defense pointed out that Mitchell was blinking and not staring as Gardner had described
