A 28-year-old San Juan man said medication he is taking somewhat impeded his ability to understand his arraignment proceeding Thursday afternoon and his attorney was unable to tell the judge whether the man suspected of cutting a woman’s throat in a parking lot after an argument about jealousy before turning the knife on himself was competent.
A Hidalgo County grand jury indicted Larry Charles Culbert III last Thursday on a charge of murder for the killing of 47-year-old Andrea Socorro Reyna.
On Thursday, he appeared in front of state District Judge Marla Cuellar at the courtroom in the county jail for his arraignment, which was broadcast on YouTube with court staff and attorneys appearing via video-conferencing.
Cuellar re-scheduled the hearing after speaking with Culbert and his attorney, Ricardo Alanis, who on Wednesday filed a motion suggesting incompetency and seeking a hearing.
“Counsel for the Defendant is suggesting that the Defendant is incompetent based on his choices, failure to communicate with counsel as to the events in the case and his behavior on the date of his arrest,” the motion states.
Alanis also told Cuellar that he has met with Culbert several times at the jail and that they can communicate, but he is not getting anything from the man for his defense.
As for Culbert, he told Cuellar that he has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and takes medication.
Alamo police accuse Culbert of stabbing Reyna to death on March 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Bealls plaza at 1449 Duranta Ave.
Police found her lying face down and motionless and Culbert close by.
Culbert had been shopping with Reyna and her 11-year-old child and a verbal dispute began after they were done, police say.
“They got out of their vehicles and a verbal dispute began regarding jealousy. The suspect then knocked the victim to the ground and with a knife cut the victims throat and the suspect then turned the knife on himself, causing a self-inflicted stab wound to his neck area,” police said in a news release.
He was taken to a hospital and Child Protective Services reunited the child with a family member, according to police.
Culbert remains jailed without a bond.
