Murder Trial Continued While Defendant Undergoes Psychological Evaluation

A capital murder trial will be put off at least until November so doctors can determine whether the defendant is psychologically competent to face a jury.

Judge Jack Springstead on Monday issued an order to have Joshua Langley undergo psychological tests. The order came after Langley told Springstead he wanted to defend himself.

Langley, 32, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old Jac'Quez Jones. If convicted, the prosecution will seek the death penalty.

Jury selection was supposed to begin Monday. Before the 9 a.m. hearing, Langley and his defense attorney Candace Hawthorne could be heard speaking in raised voices in a hallway outside the courtroom, prosecutor Pete Magrino said.

Hawthorne told Springstead Langley wanted to represent himself but that she wasn't convinced he was psychologically competent to do so or maybe even to stand trial at all, Magrino said. She filed a motion to have Langley evaluated.

Springstead will determine competency based on the opinions of three doctors. A pre-trial hearing is set for Nov. 20.

"I've been doing capital cases since 1989 and it's not unusual for defendants when it comes time for trial to start to act out," Magrino said. "It's the nature of the business. We'll get ready for next time."

Magrino has the testimony of three people, not including the suspect, who witnessed the shooting outside a home on Whitman Road in Brooksville on Dec. 4, 2006. Witnesses told authorities that Langley was upset because Jones withheld money from him after a robbery, and Langley intended to "straighten him out," according to a report.

Hawthorne did not return a call seeking comment Monday.