HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A man charged with murder is expected to go to trial after completing a mental health evaluation.
Jayson Sowas appeared in the Superior Court of Guam on Monday morning for charges related to shooting and killing a man in Maite in September.
Judge Vernon Perez revealed in the hearing the results of Sowas’ mental evaluation, which was set to be completed in mid-November, and confirmed Sowas’ case will remain before Perez.
“The court’s impression is that, notwithstanding the evaluation, the matter is appropriate before my court to remain here, not with any change in circumstance or situation,” Perez said.
Typically, mental health evaluations are ordered when defendants plead not guilty to charges by reason of mental illness. The results of the evaluation determine whether defendants are psychologically fit to stand trial.
Considering the results mean the case will remain before Perez, he was interested in particular in hearing from Sowas’ defense counsel, Tyler Scott from the Alternate Public Defender division, if they were going to assert Sowas’ right to a speedy trial.
“We’ll need to discuss that with him but also potentially discuss the possibility of a secondary evaluation,” Scott said.
Perez, in response, told Sowas, who was appearing via Zoom from the Department of Corrections, that he will be given time to consult Scott before his next hearing scheduled for Dec. 11.
Shooting
Sowas was accused of shooting and killing Benedic Beram Sept. 9 in front of the Hi-5 Logo shop in Maite.
According to court documents, Sowas was reported to the Guam Police Department for allegedly making threats at the Wash & Dry laundromat in Maite. After leaving the laundromat, Sowas allegedly shot Beram. However, he told officers he did not know the victim.
When questioned by police, he said he did not have any reason why he was threatening people. “I just did it,” Sowas said, according to a magistrate’s complaint.
“When asked why the defendant shot (Beram), the defendant responded, ‘I don’t know. I just wasn’t thinking when I shot him,’” the complaint stated.
Sowas was charged with murder as a first-degree felony and aggravated assault as a second-degree felony, with special allegations of use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony. He was also charged with burglary of an automobile as a second-degree felony and theft of a firearm as a third-degree felony.
Jayson Sowas
