A man who said last week that he wants to fire his lawyer and plead guilty to killing a Fresno man changed his mind Monday and said he now wants to keep his attorney.
But whether Kenneth James Wilson will get to plead guilty in Fresno County Superior Court to fatally shooting Julian "Julio" Barajas, 41, in February 2008 is still undetermined.
Judge Jonathan Conklin will likely tackle that issue on Wednesday when he will try to determine whether Wilson is legally competent to enter a guilty plea.
Much of Monday's hearing was held behind closed doors, but it centers on Conklin's ruling in July when he found Wilson legally incompetent to stand trial.
After a brief stay at Atascadero State Hospital, Wilson is now fit to stand trial, doctors say.
Attorney James Lambe, who represents Wilson, has disagreed with the doctors' finding. At a hearing Thursday, Lambe asked Conklin to hold a hearing to determine Wilson's competency. But at the same hearing, Wilson told Conklin that he wanted to fire Lambe and plead guilty.
Monday, Conklin asked Wilson whether he wanted to represent himself. Wilson said no and then agreed to have Lambe represent him.
Neither the judge, Lambe nor prosecutor Burton Francis spoke of Wilson's desire to plead guilty.
Wilson, 31, is accused of fatally shooting Barajas in February 2008. Police say Wilson told Barajas that he was interested in buying his vehicle and asked him to drive it to Auberry.
But when Barajas showed up, Wilson allegedly shot and killed him and then drove off with his vehicle.
Police arrested Wilson a few months later near the Big Sandy Rancheria.
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