A judge in New Orleans has ruled that one of the four teenagers accused of a carjacking and murder is competent to stand trial. The case relates to the
A judge in New Orleans has ruled that one of the four teenagers accused of a carjacking and murder is competent to stand trial. The case relates to the A judge in New Orleans has ruled that one of the four teenagers accused of a carjacking and murder is competent to stand trial. The case relates to the killing of 73-year-old Linda Frickey, who was dragged from her car and dismembered. Forensic psychiatrist Cecilia D. Webb testified that Lenyra Theophile, 16, was fit for trial after receiving treatment for PTSD, depression and anxiety. The judge also ruled to limit expert testimony on juvenile brain development in the case. The ruling is a significant blow to the defense’s case, as it may limit their ability to argue for leniency based on the defendants’ age and level of brain development. All four defendants maintain their innocence in the Mid-City killing in March 2022.
Published : 6 days ago by Nathaniel Wright in General
A judge in New Orleans has ruled that one of the four teenagers accused of a carjacking and murder is competent to stand trial. The case relates to the killing of 73-year-old Linda Frickey, who was dragged from her car and dismembered. Forensic psychiatrist Cecilia D. Webb testified that Lenyra Theophile, 16, was fit to stand trial after receiving treatment for PTSD, depression and anxiety. The judge also ruled to limit expert testimony on juvenile brain development in the case. The other three defendants, John Honore, 18, Briniyah Baker, 16, and Mar’Qel Curtis, 16, have also pleaded not guilty to the charges.
As featured on NOLA.com, prosecutors in the Linda Frickey carjacking-turned-homicide case received a double-barreled win on Thursday, as an Orleans Criminal District judge found one of the four teen defendants competent to stand trial and ruled to limit expert testimony pertaining to juvenile brain development.
Linda Frickey’s sister Jinnylynn Griffin and her sister-in-law Kathy Richard were present in the courtroom where all four youths accused of carjacking, dragging, and dismembering the 73-year-old grandmother were present together. They described the scene as “gut-wrenching.” Griffin shared, “It’s hurtful. It’s difficult. When I see them in the courtroom, it just hurts.”
The four defendants, John Honore, 18, Briniyah Baker, 16, Lenyra Theophile, 16, and Mar’Qel Curtis, 16 appeared before Judge Kimya Holmes. Cecilia D. Webb, a board-certified forensic psychiatrist, deemed Theophile fit to stand trial after two months of treatment at North Lake Hospital in St. Tammany Parish. Theophile received treatment for PTSD, depression and anxiety, group and individual therapy, and biweekly lessons about the criminal justice system. She also passed a test about court proceedings with an 84% score.
Although Theophile’s defense argued with Webb about the extent of their client’s understanding of criminal proceedings and the ramifications of a second-degree murder conviction, Holmes ultimately deemed Theophile fit to stand trial. She will be transported to the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center in New Orleans. Frickey’s sisters were pleased with that outcome. Griffin said, “As far as being competent, she knew what she was doing. They were able to know right from wrong, and they chose wrong.”
All four defendants maintain their innocence in the Mid-City killing in March 2022. The case has been highly publicized, and the community has been eager to see justice served for Frickey’s brutal murder. The case has also sparked discussions about juvenile justice and the development of the adolescent brain.
The judge’s ruling to limit expert testimony pertaining to juvenile brain development may have significant implications for the defense’s strategy. The defense had planned to present evidence of brain development and its impact on decision-making as a mitigating factor in the case. The prosecution argued that the defense’s expert witnesses lacked the qualifications to testify on the subject.
The judge’s ruling means that the defense will not be able to present evidence about the impact of brain development on the defendants’ decision-making processes. The ruling is a significant blow to the defense’s case, as it may limit their ability to argue for leniency based on the defendants’ age and level of brain development.
The case will continue to be closely watched as it unfolds. The ruling on Theophile’s competency to stand trial is a significant step forward in the case. As the trial progresses, the community will be watching to see if justice is served for Linda Frickey and her family.
Topics: Louisiana, Crime, New Orleans