The CNMI government will tap Dr. Dominic Hernandez, a psychiatrist from the Naval Hospital of Guam, to conduct a mental evaluation on William Kapono Mathewson, the man charged with beating and stabbing Dr. Francois Claassens with a fishing spear in the neck.<\/p>\n
At a status conference yesterday, assistant attorney general Chester Hinds, however, informed Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho that no schedule has been set yet for the evaluation.<\/p>\n
Camacho ordered that once Hernandez\u2019s evaluation is completed, the government shall provide a copy to defendant\u2019s counsel, assistant public defender Michael Sato.<\/p>\n
Camacho said the jury trial set for Oct. 11, 2016 at 9am shall proceed at the Rota Courthouse.<\/p>\n
Camacho set a pretrial conference\/motion hearing for July 20 at 9am instead of the original date, July 13.<\/p>\n
The judge ordered the parties to inform their witnesses of the trial date and to make advance travel reservations, hotel and car reservations to avoid any delays.<\/p>\n
Camacho said any request for additional funding for expert by the Office of the Public Defender must be made in writing.<\/p>\n
Last month, Hinds requested for the October 2016 trial as they wish to get their own mental health expert to do a mental evaluation on Mathewson.<\/p>\n
Saipan Tribune learned that Mathewson was already evaluated by the defense\u2019s mental expert. On April 29, 2015, Camacho granted the request of assistant public defender Sato to appoint a psychiatrist who will examine Mathewson. The prosecution did not oppose Sato\u2019s request.<\/p>\n
In requesting for appointment of psychiatrist, Sato disclosed that Mathewson will rely upon the defense of insanity at the time when he committed the alleged crime.<\/p>\n
Mathewson, a farmer\/fisherman, allegedly stabbed the then-60-year-old Claassens in the neck with a fishing spear and clubbed him on the head with a big pot and chain.<\/p>\n
The brutal attack happened in the backyard of the doctor\u2019s house in Teneto Village on Rota on April 4, 2015. Mathewson\u2019s house is located near the doctor\u2019s residence.<\/p>\n
Claassens has since recovered from his injuries.<\/p>\n
The Office of the Attorney General charged the 37-year-old Mathewson with attempted first degree murder, aggravated assault and battery, and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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