When he was arrested, Sharpe allegedly claimed he killed Defranceschi and two others to meet a hunting “tags” quota issued to him by the government, The Advocate previously reported. Sharpe has already pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity regarding DeFranceschi’s death in the retrial. He was then sent to a psychiatric hospital for treatment until his competency was restored enough for his 2019 trial. Sharpe’s defense also argued in 2018 he didn’t have the mental capacity to stand trial. In a July motion, Damico said that "it is the belief that his condition has deteriorated to such a point as he can no longer assist counsel in defense of this case,” according to The Advocate. The lawyer said he wants to make sure his client can understand what is going on in the courtroom. While the new trial was slated for this month, it has now been moved to January after Sharpe’s lawyer Tommy Damico requested that doctors examine Sharpe’s mental capacity. Supreme Court banned non-unanimous jury verdicts, local outlet The Advocate reports. The guilty verdict for DeFranceschi's death, the first murder he was brought to trial for, was voided last year after the U.S. Sharpe, 40, was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2019 for the 2017 death of 48-year-old Brad DeFranceschi, who was shot to death while trimming weeds in his front yard. The Boy Scout leader’s killing was one of three murders that Sharpe is accused of carrying out in 2017 in addition to one attempted murder.
A retrial for suspected Louisiana serial killer Ryan Sharpe has been postponed after his defense has again raised issues about his mental state.