Suspect judged unfit for trial in killing

By CHASE SQUIRES

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 19, 2000

DADE CITY -- A judge sent a man charged with murder to a state mental hospital Tuesday, ruling he is mentally incompetent to stand trial.

In a 10-minute hearing, Circuit Judge Wayne Cobb found that Enrique Guzan Garcia, 27, should spend the next six months in a secure state hospital, where he will be evaluated and treated and then returned to court for another hearing.

Garcia is charged with first-degree murder. He is accused of stabbing Ricardo Lopez, 26, to death in November in a vacant lot in the Tommytown community.

Investigators say Garcia, a laborer, confessed. Pasco County sheriff's detectives say Garcia told them he killed Lopez out of jealousy after an argument over a woman.

But Hanlon said Tuesday his client can't assist in his defense.

None of the three doctors who submitted reports after examining Garcia testified Tuesday, but Cobb considered their reports.

Hanlon said his client wasn't even able to help doctors determine his state of mind the night of the crime.

"They all told me they'd have to get him better before they could determine if he was competent at the time of the offense," Hanlon said.

Prosecutor Phil Van Allen said Garcia would remain in a state hospital for six months and then be re-evaluated. If he is still not competent, he would be entitled to a review every year.

Hanlon has said that his client is unable to comprehend daily life and reports hearing voices in his head.

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