ALEXANDRIA — The man charged with the murders of three Alexandria residents spoke for the first time in court and made an obscene gesture to a news photographer during a short hearing Thursday.
Charles Severance was in court so his defense attorney could request a mental evaluation and to seek a separate trial for some of the charges facing the former Alexandria resident.
Appearing before Judge Jane Roush in a brown sweater, blue shirt and jeans, Severance interrupted his defense attorney, who was making the case that Severance needed the mental evaluation because he doesn’t understand the court proceedings.
“Objection,” Severance interjected as he stood up, telling the judge that his attorney no longer represented him. He firmly repeated his concerns about his legal representation.
Judge Roush told Severance that his attorneys would continue representing him until she decided otherwise.
It was the first time since Severance was arrested in Wheeling, West Virginia, earlier this year, that the man charged with murdering Nancy Dunning, Ruthanne Lodato and Ron Kirby, has spoken in court.
The judge also ordered that Severance under go an evaluation to determine his competency. She plans to review the findings in a hearing set for Jan. 22.
She also delayed a decision whether to allow Severance be tried separately for charges related to Dunning’s killing until the results of the mental evaluation are available.
During the less than 10-minute hearing, Severance turned to a press photographer and gave him the middle finger.
Judge Roush allowed Severance to dress in street clothes for the hearing because of concerns about the presence of the pool photographer. Severance’s defense attorney thought his client would be portrayed negatively in the photos. Although Severance swapped a jail uniform for street clothes, his distinctive grizzled beard remained.
Severance is charged with capital murder in the shootings of Ron Kirby and Ruthanne Lodato. He is charged with first-degree murder for the killing of Nancy Dunning more than a decade ago. Once a candidate for Alexandria mayor, Severance lived on Gunston Road within a mile of all three victims’ homes, from the 1990s to the early 2000s.
Severance stands up in court as defense counsel is speaking. "Objection your honor. He doesn't represent me." Judge responds he does.
— Megan Cloherty (@ClohertyWTOP) December 11, 2014
Charles #Severance flips the bird to the pool photographer in Alexandria Ct. Judge: He must undergo competency eval. pic.twitter.com/oE0XLpY9pD
— Megan Cloherty (@ClohertyWTOP) December 11, 2014
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