PROVIDENCE -- A Superior Court judge today ordered an evaluation for
Esteban Carpio to determine whether he is competent to stand trial for
the April murder of Providence police Det. Sgt. James Allen.
Judge Susan McGuirl also extended an order allowing the Rhode Island
Department of Corrections to force-feed Carpio, if necessary.
Corrections on July 20 had requested permission to insert a feeding
tube, if necessary, because Carpio had been inconsistent in taking
nourishment.
Carpio, 26, of Providence, is charged with discharging a firearm while
committing a crime of violence, death resulting, as well as murder, in
connection with Allen's slaying.
Communicating with Carpio via videoconference, McGuirl said the court
would review his evaluation Aug. 12, and a bail hearing could be
scheduled that day.
Carpio stood while talking to McGuirl and answered questions from the
judge. During his last court date July 20, also conducted via
videoconference, Carpio sat in a wheelchair.
Carpio's mother, Yvonne Carpio, was among those in the courtroom.
McGuirl also said Carpio's lawyer Kirsten Wenge still must show that she
has established a Rhode Island office.
Wenge works from Boston and recently passed the Rhode Island bar. But
under local rules, she must show that she has established a Rhode Island
office in order to bring her boss, Robert L. Sheketoff, a well-known
Boston criminal attorney, into the case to argue at the bail hearing.
At Carpio's last court appearance, Wenge said she was working on finding
office space here.
Police say Allen was questioning Carpio at police headquarters April 17
when Carpio wrestled away the detectives gun, shot and killed him.
-- With reports from Journal staff writer Amanda Milkovits
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