Chism, who was a 14-year-old student at Danvers High School in 2013, is accused of killing 24-year-old Colleen Ritzer of Andover, a popular math teacher at Danvers High School. on October. 22, 2013.
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“Is that a choice he’s chosen not to listen or something he doesn’t have control over?” she said. The psychologist said Tuesday that she saw the 16-year-old on the floor banging his head.
A psychologist evaluated Chism on Wednesday, and said he made suicidal comments and mentioned something about a plan, but did not elaborate during an interview.
When the doctor came to evaluate Chism, he said that his defense team was not trying to help him.
Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall said Chism was malingering and manipulating the court. Chism questioned why he was even having a trial, saying the judge “had enough knowledge to make a decision”.
Colleen McMillan also said Chism, 16, does not pay attention in court and thinks about other things while he’s there. Asked what would happen if he pled guilty, McMillan said he “didn’t care what the consequences were”. After hearing from the independent experts, Lowy must decide whether to seat a jury, hospitalize Chism for a 20-day evaluation or end the trial entirely and commit him to a state hospital.
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The move comes while lawyers continue debating Chism’s mental competency to stand trial. “And when I asked who the somebody else was, he said ‘He doesn’t want me to tell you'”.
