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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, August 21, 2001

Escapee's competency divides experts

By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

Four mental health experts who treated or evaluated state hospital escapee and accused car thief Leonard Moore are split as to whether Moore is competent enough to stand trial on charges against him.

Psychologist James Tom Green yesterday told Circuit Judge Reynaldo Graulty that he believes Moore, 35, is competent and is "faking" a mental illness in hopes of avoiding prosecution on the auto theft charges.

Moore was arrested in October after he allegedly drove a stolen Toyota Corolla through a stop sign in Waikiki. Moore 35, was sent to the Hawaii State Hospital in Kane'ohe May 20 to determine if he is fit to stand trial on the auto theft charges.

He has escaped from the hospital twice, first by throwing a television through a window and by throwing a table through another window the other time. His escapes were among a series by patients from the Kane'ohe facility this year.

Greene yesterday said he is "80 percent confident" that Moore is "malingering" or faking a mental illness. That assessment jibes with that of a doctor who has treated Moore during his stay at the state hospital. Green said his assessment was based on a review of records at the state hospital and the Oahu Community Correctional Center, where Moore has also been held while awaiting trial.

Greene said he also interviewed hospital workers and talked with Moore for about three minutes at the state hospital, after which Moore abruptly ended the interview.

Two other court-appointed examiners have also reviewed Moore's case, with one of them concluding Moore is not competent to stand trial and the other saying he was unable to decide.

Graulty had Moore removed from yesterday's hearing after Moore interrupted Graulty at the start of the court session, saying the charges against him are groundless and that he is being wrongly prosecuted.

Moore's attorney, Keith Shigetomi, disputed claims that his client is faking a mental illness. He said instead of complaining to state hospital workers that Moore is mentally ill, he has done just the opposite, telling them he is not supposed to be there.

Shigetomi said that five days before one of his escapes, Moore told a hospital worker, "I apologize, but I'm going to have to escape this weekend."

City Deputy Prosecutor Emily Kawashima asked Graulty to find Moore fit to stand trial on the auto theft charges or, in the alternative, to continue the competency hearing so that more evidence can be presented.

Graulty said he will rule on the matter by the end of the week.