The new public defender for the suspect in a Holmes Beach stabbing case is suggesting his client may be incompetent.
Andrew James Helderman, 24, allegedly stabbed his female roommate numerous times while fighting off his male roommate at their Clark Drive residence, and has since filed numerous motions on his own from his jail cell.
Twelfth Circuit Judge John F. Lakin appointed Donald McMurray of Comprehensive MedPsych Systems of Sarasota and Michael Gamache, a clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist in Tampa, to file reports within five days of their examination, on or before Nov. 17.
In a court paper filed Oct. 24, the recently assigned Assistant Public Defender Phillip Paine claims Helderman is unable to understand his lawyer or the proceedings.
Helderman is unresponsive to direct questions about the charges against him, suffers from “a state of mental and emotional disorganization” and replaces or distorts reality with “delusions or bizarre notions,” according to Paine’s motion.
Paine is the second attorney assigned to the Helderman case by the public defender’s office.
Since May, Helderman filed numerous pro-se motions from his Manatee County jail cell that were denied by the judge.
One sought to remove his first assistant public defender, Franklin Roberts. In October, the public defender’s office took him off the case.
In addition to the charge of first-degree attempted murder — upped by prosecutors from a second-degree charge when the evidence suggested premeditation — Helderman is charged with aggravated assault against his male roommate and possessing an illegal firearm.
The weapon charges were filed after HBPD learned Helderman, a convicted felon from Glades County, had constructed a “bang-stick” out of metal tubes shortly before his alleged rampage. The weapon is capable of firing a 12-guage shotgun round, according to the HBPD report.
EMS personnel and Blake Medical Center staff treated and released the victims, who have since reportedly left the area.
Helderman pleaded not guilty to all charges and is being held on a $166,500 bond.
He faces life in prison if convicted on the premeditated attempted murder charge.
Competency hearings are set for 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.