An Essex Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday that Philip D. Chism is now mentally competent to stand trial for the rape and murder of Colleen Ritzer in Danvers High School in 2013. He is being tried as an adult and has pleaded not guilty.
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The ruling comes after the judge received results from a mental health evaluation the teen was ordered to undergo, delaying his trial as juror selection was underway in October. He had refused to enter the courtroom for previous hearings and told a psychologist he hears voices and wanted someone to shoot him, necn.com reported.
A Massachusetts court made the determination after a mental evaluation of the teenager, said Maria Dres, an official in the Essex County Superior Court Clerk’s Office.
On Wednesday, Chism, who had gotten a haircut since his last court appearance, sat quietly in court in Salem, looking down.
Opening statements may begin as soon as November 16.
Prosecutors contend that Chism, 14 at the time of the alleged attack, had been upset by a conversation he had with Ritzer when he followed her into a bathroom after school.
Ritzer’s body was found in woods near the school.
Jury selection will resume Thursday. Lowy disagreed, but said if it becomes apparent a change of venue is necessary, he’ll order one. He left the bathroom alone. Authorities said she was sexually assaulted with a stick.
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When spotted the next day by a police officer, Chism had a knife, a bloodstained box cutter, a pair of women’s underwear, plus Ritzer’s credit cards and driver’s license, the affidavit said.
