[Alfred D. Swersky] ordered the 29-year-old parolee hospitalized at a secure facility until he is able to assist his attorneys with his defense. [Gregory D. Murphy] was released from prison 12 days before [Kevin Shifflett] was stabbed 18 times in an unprovoked attack as he played with friends and siblings outside his great-grandparents' home in the Del Ray section of Alexandria during spring break. Murphy also is charged with the malicious wounding of two women--including Kevin's great-grandmother- -who came to Kevin's aid.

Swersky based his ruling on a court-ordered evaluation by a clinical psychologist who found that Murphy suffers from a psychotic disorder and is convinced that he is the victim of a racial conspiracy and is hooked up to a machine that controls his thoughts and actions. Murphy will be sent to a state hospital for medication and treatment until a judge rules him competent based on a doctor's evaluation.

A new co-counsel for [Joseph Bowman], Joseph McCarthy, was appointed yesterday. Bowman said additional lawyers, including both white and black female attorneys, are also a possibility. After calling both Bowman and [Jonathan Shapiro], who are white, racist in court and demanding their removal, Murphy asked the judge for white and black female attorneys. Murphy is black.