A man charged with the murder of a 13-year-old girl in Orlando may not see his day in court just yet, as questions about his mental fitness to stand trial have pushed proceedings into a state of limbo. Jerry Dorisme, accused of the stabbing death of Rose Dieujuste on the Fourth of July, has had his mental competence called into question by his defense attorney, prompting a request for a judicial mental evaluation, as reported by WESH.
During Monday's hearing, Dorisme's attorney informed the court that a doctor had evaluated the defendant and found him incompetent to stand trial, stating that he did not grasp the seriousness of the charges or the legal processes at hand. According to WESH, the doctor recommended that Dorisme be placed in a state hospital for treatment, effectively pausing the case against him. However, the state has requested a secondary evaluation, the results of which will be discussed in next month's status hearing.
Dieujuste's tragic end came after surveillance footage captured Dorisme allegedly following her in an Orlando apartment complex. She was later found with multiple stab wounds inside a closet and succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. According to ClickOrlando, Dorisme, who had no known connection to Dieujuste, was identified and arrested following tips from the community after the release of the surveillance video.
