Judge grants DeSoto's appointment of defense expert

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Superior Court Judge Anita Sukola granted the defense's motion in Chad DeSoto's for the appointment of a defense expert.  DeSoto has been behind bars since going on a rampage in Tumon injuring numerous pedestrians and killing three Japanese tourists when he drove onto a sidewalk and got out and began stabbing people. 

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges by reason of mental illness, disease or defect and the court had ordered a psychological evaluation that has been filed under seal, or kept private from the public. The court granted the defense motion and said an expert would be arranged by the court services division to find a qualified person to review the methodology and result from the first psych evaluation. 

Judge Sukola also ordered that another evaluation be conducted despite the fact that the defense had already obtained the services of a visiting psychologist and got a second opinion. 

The court said the defense couldn't pick their own expert and set another trial setting for October 2.