5 years after a girl allegedly stabbed a Boston EMT, her lawyer moved to dismiss her case and argued she is unlikely to ever regain the psychological competency to face trial for her actions in a Suffolk Superior Court docket listening to Wednesday.
“It is important that people recognize that after being treated for five years in-patient in a mental health hospital, if they have not been able to restore her to competency than we need to dismiss the case at this point,” stated protection legal professional Eduardo Masferrer. “The charges can always be re-brought later if she’s restored to competency.”
Julie Tejeda, of East Boston, is accused of stabbing a feminine EMT seven instances within the stomach and legs and pepper spraying her and her associate whereas they have been transporting the suspect in an ambulance to Massachusetts Normal Hospital for a wellness verify in July 2019.
Tejeda, who has been handled at Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain for a few years, has not but been decided “mentally competent” to face trial on assault with a lethal weapon and different prices.
Masferrer moved for the choose to dismiss the case with out prejudice Wednesday, that means the Commonwealth might doubtlessly deliver the case once more if Tejeda is in some unspecified time in the future deemed match to face trial. The choose declined to rule on the movement Wednesday, selecting to reassess after Tejeda’s newer drugs take impact and he critiques stories from her medical doctors.
Over 30 native EMTs — with a big contingent of New York EMTs who stated they’ve just lately suffered murders of their members — confirmed up with the sufferer within the courtroom Wednesday in a present of assist for his or her colleague.
The EMT who was stabbed was pressured to retire after the incident, representatives for the EMTs stated, and nonetheless suffers psychological and bodily accidents from the incident.
BPD EMS union president Matthew Anderson stated the movement to dismiss on Wednesday is “not justice.”
“We get assaulted every day,” stated Anderson. “This is an everyday occurrence for us. And it’s not right. All of our EMTs are here to stand behind Elena, and also to say that it’s not right and stand up for ourselves. And we need help from the court.”
Tejeda was picked up by the ambulance in 2019 whereas she was affected by the delusion then-governor Charlie Baker was in love together with her and going to kill his spouse, the protection stated Wednesday. When she bought within the ambulance, she broke down and pulled a knife out of her purse.
Masferrer argued although Tejeda has made some progress in her psychological remedy with recognizing her previous delusions, she continues to have new delusions and a number of other medical doctors haven’t indicated they count on her to regain competency. After 5 years of this, he stated, the possibilities she is going to ever be match to face trial are “slim to none.”
“It’s not fair to sort of keep a case languishing over and over for years and years and years when it’s never going to be resolved,” stated Masferrer. “It’s a stress, it’s a pressure just hanging over you. You need some sort of resolution.”
The prosecution contended the case has not even reached the midway level of her potential assault sentence, seven and a half years, and Tejeda continues to have modifications in her remedy plan and present demonstrated enchancment.
“Right now, what’s the main focus today for me is wanting to see Elena and to make sure that we’re showing her the support,” stated Boston EMS Chief James Hooley, refencing the stabbing sufferer. “We’re gonna continue to keep showing her support.”
The case will return to Suffolk Superior Court docket on Oct. 9.
