Trial continued in deadly abduction case

The trial of a Woodbridge man charged in the abduction and death of an Alexandria woman has been continued amid concerns about his competency to stand trial.

Keith Baskerville, 19, is charged with felony murder, abduction and carjacking in the September 2008 death of 60-year-old Barbara Bosworth, who was abducted from Springfield Mall.

He was set to stand trial next week, but his trial was continued and a judge ordered that he undergo a second mental health evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial.

Police said Baskerville and Lutchman Chandler, 19, abducted Bosworth from Springfield Mall and drove her to a PDQ Mart in Woodbridge, where they tried to use her ATM card to withdraw money.

The men then left the store with Bosworth and crashed their car while fleeing police.

Bosworth died at the scene.

Chandler, who police said was driving the car at the time of the accident, later died from his injuries.

In March, a judge first declared Baskerville, who suffered head injuries in the crash and had previously been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, incompetent to stand trial and ordered him to a state mental hospital for treatment.

Baskerville was discharged from the hospital, returned to the Prince William-Manassas regional jail and declared competent to stand trial in June.

In August a judge granted Baskerville’s motion to represent himself at his trial.

Since then, Baskerville’s mental health has again deteriorated, attorneys and therapists said at a hearing last week.

In a motion filed in Prince William Circuit Court, John Notarriani, who was appointed as Baskerville’s stand-by counsel after the judge ruled he could represent himself, said he believes Baskerville is no longer competent to stand trial and would not be prepared for trial next week.

Baskerville is now due in court again on Nov. 6, when a judge will decide if he is competent to stand trial.

Baskerville’s mother, Karen Smith, said she feels Baskerville needs to be in a hospital, not jail, to get the medicine and treatment he needs.

“This is not fair to Keith or anyone else looking for closure on this case,” Smith said in an e-mail. “Keith requires a medical setting, surrounded by mental health professionals and I have been trying to obtain this for him since July 2006 when we first found out how sick he really is.”

Smith said Baskerville does not remember what happened on the day of the abduction.

“[He] does not understand the ramifications and complications of it all ...He thinks it is as simple as, ‘Obviously I got in the backseat for a ride home,’ ” Smith said.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.