Re-Examination Ordered for Mental Fitness of Murder Suspect

A man accused of fatally stabbing his estranged wife last year at the Kehalani Foodland will undergo another round of mental examinations to determine his fitness to stand trial.

Suspect Stephen B. Schmidt. PC: (5.22.17) by Wendy Osher.

Second Circuit Court Judge Richard Bissen ordered a re-examination of Stephen Schmidt from all three doctors after two doctors, Dr. Martin Blinder and Dr. Alex Lichton testified via Poly Com from the Hawaiʻi State Hospital on Oʻahu yesterday.

A third doctor, Dr. George Chi Choi, had testified from Maui last month saying he believed the defendant was fit, but to what degree, he was unsure.

Judge Bissen also ordered any current medical records relating to fitness should be provided as an update to the doctors.

45-year-old Schmidt has pleaded not guilty to the first degree murder of 24-year-old Kehau Farias who was killed on April 19, 2016.  Schmidt also pleased not guilty to attempted first degree murder of two men (James Reeves, 34, of Haʻikū and Scott Spencer “Kip” Stolsig, 53, of Wailuku) who tried to intervene and were stabbed during the incident.

The next court date has been set for Aug. 9, 2017.