The Joppatowne man accused of killing and eating portions of a family friend did not appear in court for a scheduled plea hearing Monday after an order to transport him to Harford County Circuit Court was mistakenly not issued, prosecutors said.
Alexander Kinyua, 22, remained in custody at the Clifton T. Perkins maximum security mental health facility. Kinyua was arrested in May 2013 for allegedly killing Kujoe Bonsafo Agyei-Kodie and eating portions of the man’s heart and brain.
Assistant State’s Attorney Christopher Smith told The Dagger that the error stemmed from the court’s computer system, which sends out notices for hearings but does not issue official writs for the appearance of the accused.
“Something fell through the cracks, admittedly,” Smith said.
He added that he would ensure that a writ was issued Monday for the hearing, now rescheduled for Aug. 19.
At that hearing, Smith said the state’s attorney’s office believes Kinyua will answer the charge of first degree murder by pleading guilty but not criminally responsible. Evaluators at the Perkins facility and, later, a doctor hired by the office of State’s Attorney Joseph Cassilly agreed that Kinyua was not criminally responsible due to his mental state when the crime was committed.
Should the court find Kinyua is in fact not criminal responsible, he could be committed indefinitely to Perkins and his status would be subject to periodic review by medical professionals.
Dagger Education Editor Cindy Mumby contributed additional reporting to this story.
Better that they accidentally keep him in than accidentally let him out.
They don’t have a problem issuing a letter about banning cell phones from the building, but can’t even send a writ to have a murderer brought to court. This is our tax dollars at work.