Accused killer of Monroe County sheriff’s deputy cusses judge at competency trial

The death penalty case against Christopher Calmer, the man accused of fatally shooting a Monroe County sheriff’s deputy in September 2014, won’t go to trial until the middle of next year.

But this week jurors in the Monroe County Superior Court are hearing testimony from medical experts and will decide whether Calmer is competent to stand trial.

Before those jurors were even in the courtroom Tuesday morning for the first day of arguments, Calmer — who in past pretrail proceedings has muttered and blurted out remarks, and even sprawled on the floor — mouthed off at Judge Tommy Wilson.

Calmer’s lawyers had asked that the 48-year-old alleged killer, who has a history of chronic back and neck pain, be allowed to lie on a gurney in the courtroom.

Wilson offered to let Calmer sit in a recliner, a chair Calmer has used during prior hearings.

The judge’s refusal of a gurney, which prosecutors had objected to, appeared to upset Calmer, who had been resting his head in his arms at the table where his attorneys were seated beside him.

Calmer looked up and leered at Wilson and muttered as the judge spoke.

“Don’t interrupt me,” the judge told Calmer.

“I’ll interrupt you if I want to,” Calmer shot back. “You’re denying me medical attention. (Expletive) you! I’ll lay on the floor if I want to.”

Calmer kept quiet after that.

He is accused in the fatal shooting of Deputy Michael Norris, which happened Sept. 14, 2014, while Norris was answering a call about a suicidal person at Calmer’s parents’ house near Bolingbroke.

Opening statements in the competency trial began late Tuesday morning.

Among the matters at hand are whether Calmer can understand the proceedings and whether he can help his lawyers defend him.

The burden of proof lies with his defense team. That is, they must prove he is not fit, at least for now, for the case to proceed.

Calmer’s lawyers questioned a few doctors who had examined him, including his personal physician from nearly a decade ago, asking their opinions on how Calmer’s pain might affect his ability to comprehend his pending murder trial.

Most suggested he would at least be somewhat impaired, though prosecutors contend Calmer is competent to stand trial.

Testimony resumes at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

This story was originally published August 16, 2016 at 12:12 PM with the headline "Accused killer of Monroe County sheriff’s deputy cusses judge at competency trial."