Hearing reset for suspect in Howard student's death

photo Courtney D Birt

A judge Wednesday reset a hearing for Courtney Birt, charged with murder in the 2013 shooting death of a 16-year-old, while the court awaits a report on his mental competency.

Birt is charged with shooting Howard School student Lamunta Williams in an abandoned house on Carr Street when Birt was 18.

Birt's attorney, John Allen Brooks, filed a motion in January arguing that Birt, 20, wasn't mentally competent to assist him in preparing for trial. He included a forensic evaluation completed when Birt was 16 and facing charges of aggravated assault and possession of a gun.

In that evaluation, Birt's IQ tested at 59, "placing him in the extremely low range of intellectual abilities." Birt did not know how old he would be five or 10 years in the future; the hours in the day or the months in the year, according to the report.

"He is unable to consult with his attorney in a rational, informed, and factual manner," psychologist Steven Lawhon said.

Another evaluation was ordered after he was indicted on murder charges, and doctors again found him incompetent to assist his attorney. Judge Don Poole ordered Birt to work with the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at the Harold Jordan Center, with the goal of becoming competent to stand trial.

DIDD was ordered to present reports on Birt's progress at six-month intervals. Brooks said Birt is nearing the six-month mark in work with the center, but no report has yet been released.

Judge Poole passed the hearing to Dec. 3 to provide time for the results from DIDD to be released.

Upcoming Events