SALEM, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- The student accused of killing a Danvers High School teacher is expected to undergo another mental health evaluation to determine if he is fit to stand trial.
Phillip Chism is accused in the rape and murder of Colleen Ritzer in 2013 at Danvers High School. Chism wasn't in court on Wednesday. He refused, and instead stood behind a wall, while a court clinician testified he told her he talked to voices in his head, questioned why he was having a trial and had suicidal thoughts.
On Wednesday, court clinician Colleen McMillan testified during her one hour and fifteen minute meeting with Chism Wednesday morning, that he sat on the floor, told her he didn't want his lawyers, and that the voices in his head were telling him not to talk to her.
"Philip, he started making noises and was talking to someone else but when I asked him who he said he doesn't want me to tell you," she said.
Chism is accused in the 2013 rape and killing of Ritzer at Danvers High School. The parents of both Ritzer and Chism were in court listening as McMillan went on to say how stressed and anxious Chism was in court.
But prosecutors aren't buying it, and believe it's just another delay tactic. She says Chism is manipulating his doctors and is holding everyone in this case hostage.
So the judge ruled and hopes to be able to have an independent expert appointed to do this evaluation. And he's having the jury be told the earliest day they'd likely be needed is next Wednesday.