Outbursts mark accused killer's hearing 20-year-old man charged in
deputy's death makes explicit remarks, interrupts judge.
By Michael Baker
The Fresno Bee
(Published Friday, December, 14, 2001 5:55AM)
Shaking and gasping, the man accused of murdering a sheriff's deputy repeatedly interrupted a judge, sometimes with sexually explicit outbursts, Thursday in a Fresno County courtroom. "I want O.J. ... his attorney," 20-year-old Ramadan Abdur-Rauf Abdullah yelled, interrupting Judge Debra J. Kazanjian.
"You need to keep your mouth shut," Kazanjian retorted.
Moments later,
"You're going to have something else controlled if you're not quiet," Kazanjian responded.
Abdullah is accused of murdering deputy Erik Telen at a rural home in Dunlap on Aug. 21. The 26-year-old deputy had been investigating a break-in.
Abdullah's demeanor Thursday was in stark contrast to how he acted at his previous court hearing. On Oct. 25, Abdullah was declared mute by his attorney, who said his client had not communicated with anyone in weeks.
Thursday, Abdullah communicated plenty, although it was often nonsensical. The scheduled action was a preliminary hearing, but attorneys agreed to continue the matter until Jan. 24 so that several reports could be reviewed.
"I object, your honor," Abdullah interjected when he heard the plans.
"You're not going to interrupt me. Do you understand that?" Kazanjian said.
"Your honor, I have a question."
"You're not going to interrupt me."
"I don't want to continue," he finished.
Telen's family exited out of the back of the courtroom and did not talk with reporters. Prosecutor Dennis Peterson also did not comment.
Defense attorney Jim Lambe said Abdullah's outbursts are indicative of his mental instability.
"We hope to get to the bottom of it soon," he said, adding that a psychiatrist is scheduled to evaluate Abdullah before the next court date.
Lambe said evidence was unsealed Thursday that indicates Abdullah had mental problems before shooting and killing Telen.
In a June 29 resignation letter handed in before he quit a job as a telemarketer in New York, Lambe said, Abdullah wrote: "There are [two] many witches, warlocks and homosexuals working here."
Lambe said he has serious doubts about his client's competency to understand and aid in his own defense. Such an issue could prevent his trial until doctors declare him competent.
The reporter can be reached at mbaker@fresnobee.com or 441-6295
When I read about behavior like this, I keep remember what a conservative Pysc. told me over two decades ago.
That thanks to the ACLU and the left wing Pysc.s they have perverted the whole insanity issue.
His premise was that only insane people murder other people. The job of the Pyscs. would be simple prove that the perps were insane. They would be guilty of murder by being insane. Then, they should get the death penalty to make sure they never acted as an insane person again to murder!
Needless to say he was never asked by an ACLU lawyer to be an expert witness for the defense at a murder trial! He, also, said that all ACLU lawyers were insane and should be locked up for their life span to protect society!