Robert Lewis Dear, the man officials say is responsible for the shooting deaths of three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs declared in court Wednesday that he wants to represent himself and no longer requires the services of attorneys appointed by the state.
"I do not want them as my lawyers. I invoke my constitutional right to defend myself," Robert Lewis Dear said during the court hearing, according to the Associated Press. "How can I trust my attorney when he says I'm incompetent in the newspaper?"
Dear was arrested November 27 after a five hour standoff with police, but not before police say he killed three people and injured nine others.
Dear faces a total of 179 counts – including eight charges of first-degree murder, reported The Denver Post. El Paso County prosecutor noted that Dear could still face additional charges and have filed 131 counts of attempted first-degree murder and charges of assault, burglary and criminal mischief against him.
Presiding judge Gilbert Martinez ordered Dear to undergo a competency evaluation at the state mental hospital in Pueblo, which came as a result of Dear wanting to represent himself in the first place. Based on the results of the evaluation, his attorneys will either be dismissed or continue to represent him against his wishes.
Responding to the ruling, Dear warned that he will not cooperate with the evaluators.
"I'm not going to say a word to them," Dear told the judge.
During the trial, as he's done in the past, he accused his defense of trying to declare him incompetent so they can give him drugs to make him "a zombie" in an effort to hide the "truth," according to ABC News.
Prosecutors objected to the competency evaluation, citing Dear's previous outbursts when he admitted guilt. The judge, however, disreegarded their protests and went forward with the order.
The next court date is set for Feb. 24, 2016.
