Judge orders evaluation in murder case

SANDPOINT - A former Bonner County man awaiting trial on first-degree murder and theft charges is being ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

District Judge Fred Gibler granted on Wednesday a defense motion for Keith Allen Brown's evaluation, according to court documents.

The court was scheduled to take up several motions to suppress evidence in the Leslie Carlton Breaw murder case, but Brown's defense

team set them aside and moved for an evaluation of Brown.

Chief Public Defender Isabella Robertson described Brown's thought patterns as “disorganized” and said her client might not be able to aid in his own defense, court records indicate.

Brown, 47, is accused of shooting Breaw to death in January 2007, stealing a $56,000 escrow check belonging to him and fleeing to Florida. Brown's 26-year-old wife, Tyrah Brea Brown, faces an identical set of charges in connection with Breaw's death.

Both suspects remain jailed while their cases are pending.

Breaw's remains were discovered almost two months after the Browns relocated to Fort Meyers Beach, Fla. The two were arrested and extradited here to face the charges.

While in custody in Florida, both suspects allegedly confessed to the shooting, although Keith Brown has stated that his wife made false statements in order to protect him. Keith Brown has stated that the shooting occurred accidentally in a struggle over a .22-caliber rifle. He has also stated that Breaw's slaying was an act of self defense.

Keith Brown has sparred with his defense counsel throughout the proceedings. He has accused his attorneys of misleading him and keeping him in the dark about the defense case.

Brown has personally filed motions to have them removed from the case and at one point, Robertson and Chief Deputy Public Defender Janet Whitney asked to be released from the case after allegations surfaced that he was planning on lodging a Idaho State Bar complaint against them.

Relations appeared to improve last spring, but the situation did not last and Brown has renewed his demands for new counsel.

Keith Brown's trial is planned for this winter and Tyrah Brown's trial is set for next month.