Andrew Lester, the person charged within the April 2023 taking pictures of Ralph Yarl after {the teenager} mistakenly went to the mistaken home, is about to seem in courtroom Tuesday after his legal professional submitted a psychological analysis — the outcomes of which may decide whether or not Lester is match to face trial in February 2025.
Steven Salmon, Lester’s legal professional, confirmed to ABC Information on Wednesday that the examination has been filed with the courtroom.
“I think the choose will make a ruling based mostly on that analysis on the subsequent listening to [on Nov. 26],” he mentioned. “I’m not capable of present that report or its contents as it’s coated beneath the gag order entered within the case.”
Ralph Yarl, a Black 16-year-old who was shot and wounded by a home-owner after mistakenly going to the mistaken home to select up his siblings, holds a bass clarinet on this image obtained from social media.
Lee Merritt by way of Reuters
In October, a Clay County choose rescheduled Lester’s trial, which was initially set for Oct. 7, to start on Feb. 18, 2025, pending the outcomes of the psychological analysis. That examination was ordered by the choose after Salmon filed a movement requesting it, in accordance with courtroom paperwork obtained by ABC Information.
Reserving picture supplied by the Clay County, Mo., Sheriff’s Workplace of Andrew Lester.
Clay County Sheriff’s Workplace by way of AP, File
Within the movement, Salmon claimed that Lester, who’s 86, is going through well being situations that might impair his skill to know authorized proceedings or help in his protection at trial.
He mentioned within the movement that Lester has misplaced greater than 50 kilos, skilled points along with his reminiscence and has exhibited confusion surrounding the main points of the case. He additionally famous that Lester had additionally suffered a damaged hip, coronary heart points and hospitalization because the case started.
Salmon additionally famous that Lester has confronted “stress” attributable to “overwhelming media consideration, in addition to demise threats and different undesirable consideration, making it tough for him to work together socially with anybody.”
Lester was charged with one rely of felony assault within the first-degree and one rely of armed legal motion, additionally a felony, within the taking pictures of Yarl, a Black teenager who mistakenly went to Lester’s Kansas Metropolis house after arriving on the mistaken handle to select up his twin brothers from a play date on April 13, 2023.
Lester, who’s white, pleaded not responsible later that month and was launched on a $200,000 bond.
Yarl, who was 16 on the time, was shot within the head and in the correct arm, by Lester, in accordance with police. The now 18-year-old suffered a traumatic mind harm, his household beforehand instructed ABC Information.
In line with a possible trigger assertion obtained by ABC Information, Lester instructed police that he “believed somebody was making an attempt to interrupt into the home” and grabbed a gun earlier than going to the door as a result of he was scared.
Yarl opened up concerning the taking pictures in an unique interview with Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts in July 2023, the place he mirrored on his restoration and the harrowing expertise.
“He factors [the gun] at me … so I kinda, like, brace and I flip my head,” Yarl instructed Roberts. “Then it occurred. After which I am on the bottom … after which I fall on the glass. The shattered glass. After which earlier than I do know it I am operating away shouting, ‘Assist me, assist me.'”
