Lee Anthony Evans, 58, had asked to represent himself, but changed his mind when he learned he would first have to prove his mental competency
Lee Evans appears in Superior Court in Newark on Friday, May 5, 2011. He is charged in the the Aug. 20, 1978 killing of five Newark teenage boys. NEWARK — Less than a month after telling a judge he wanted to act as his own attorney, the man accused of murdering five teenagers in Newark in 1978 said he will, for the time being, move forward with his current lawyer.
Lee Anthony Evans, 58, had asked to represent himself, but after it became clear he would first have to prove his mental competency, he decided to stick with Olubukola Adetula as his attorney.
He may still choose to represent himself at a later point, Adetula told Superior Court Judge Patricia Costello this morning.
Adetula had wanted the judge to rule on whether Evans could represent himself before being forced to respond to the competency issue, because he felt awkward having to speak for a client who no longer sought his advice.
"My ability to represent Mr. Evans is limited," Adetula said.
Costello was concerned, however, that Evans might be unfit to understand the ramifications of acting as his own attorney.
"I have to decide on the mental competence before deciding whether he can represent himself," she said.
Costello recommended that Evans and Adetula discuss their options. After a 30-minute break, Adetula said he would continue to represent Evans and respond to the prosecution's question of competency, which was raised last month.
Assistant Prosecutor Peter Guarino said Evans cannot properly assist in his own defense and cited as proof a letter the defendant sent in March to the state Attorney General's Office. In it, Evans accused Essex County authorities and Adetula of committing criminal acts that led to his arrest.
Evans' next court date is schedueled for June 30.