Manders requests psych evaluation

Paul Manders, of Osage, has requested a psychological evaluation to determine his “fitness to proceed,” according to court documents dated Feb. 15. The 52-year-old is accused of shooting Vernon Clyde, of Osage, on July 27. 
As previously reported, Manders had called 911 to report that he had shot Clyde, in what was said to be the conclusion of an ongoing property dispute between the two men. 
On Sept. 30, during his arraignment in Weston County’s Sixth Judicial District Court, Manders pleaded not guilty to the charged crime. 
In a handwritten letter to the court, dated Feb. 7, Manders said he would like to make a change to his plea from not guilty by self-defense to not guilty by illness or deficiency.
“I aquired brain trauma as to where I lost control of my mental faculties as I was unaware of my surroundings to as knowing or comprehending what happening and in the unforeseeable future of lacking the ability to properly process information and or comprehend it,” Manders said. 

In a subsequent letter, dated Feb. 14, Manders said that his attorney, Rick Weisheimer, is sending him to the Wyoming State Hospital for evaluation. In the same letter, he also requested that his lawyers be replaced, citing incompetency. 
According to District Court Clerk Tina Cote, no future court dates are scheduled at this time.