The trial of a 58-year-old man charged in the killing of his brother in May has been delayed after an expert said the suspect is too sick to undergo a criminal-responsibility examination, court documents show.
Robert Fryer is charged with first-degree murder, arson and abuse of a corpse in connection with the death of his brother, Jack Fryer Jr. Through a lawyer, Robert Fryer had pleaded innocent by reason of mental disease or defect in Conway County Circuit Court in July.
Fryer was supposed to be evaluated by a doctor or other mental health professional to determine if a mental disease or defect prevented him from understanding the criminality of his conduct, according to court documents.
However, after meeting with Fryer, a forensic psychologist at the Arkansas State Hospital expressed doubts that Fryer would be able to stand trial in his current condition.
In a letter to the court dated Aug. 27, the forensic psychologist said she met with Fryer and had "serious concerns related to his fitness to stand trial given his current floridly psychotic state, which is not likely to improve in the absence of treatment."
Fryer has a long history of schizophrenia and has not received treatment or medication for the illness in more than two years, the letter said. During the meeting, the psychologist said, it was apparent Fryer was experiencing symptoms of psychosis.
The psychologist said a criminal-responsibility evaluation could not be completed, and she said in the letter that "a more definitive and accurate opinion about his mental state, adjudicative capacities, and criminal responsibility can be formed after a period of observation at the Arkansas State Hospital."
In response, Conway County Circuit Judge Jerry Don Ramey ordered in court documents dated Aug. 27 that Fryer be held at the Arkansas State Hospital for psychiatric treatment.
Fryer was originally scheduled to appear in Conway County Circuit Court for a pretrial hearing Wednesday, but Ramey issued an order of continuance pushing the trial back to the end of December.
When he was arrested May 26, Fryer admitted while being questioned by authorities to "causing the death of his brother," according to a news release from the Conway County sheriff's office sent out shortly after the arrest.
He denied fighting with Jack Fryer Jr. before the brother's death, according to an arrest affidavit.
Fryer is accused of killing his brother, trying to dismember the body and then burning the body and several buildings and a car on his brother's property, according to an arrest affidavit.
Jack Fryer Jr. was also known by the nickname "Daddy Jack." He was known in Little Rock and throughout the state for his love of music and work as an advocate for those who needed a second chance.
He worked with prison ministries and halfway houses and helped former inmates establish themselves after being released.
Metro on 09/21/2015