Plea Hearing Canceled For Accused Cannibal

The hearing of the Joppa man accused of killing his housemate and eating part of the dead man's heart and brains was canceled today when he did not appear in court.

Appearing in court was out of his control, however. An order to transport Kinyua from the maximum security mental facility where he's being detained to his plea hearing in Harford County Circuit Court was never issued and, because he could not be there, the hearing was postponed.

Alexander Kinyua, 22, of the 500 block of Terrapin Terrace in Joppa is charged with first-degree murder and use of a dangerous weapon in connection with the slaying of Kujoe Bonsafo Agyei-Kodie.

Kinyua is being held at Clifton T. Perkins, a maximum security mental facility in Jessup.

"I've just been advised he has not been transported," Circuit court judge Stephen Waldron announced to the court shortly before 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Waldron added the lawyers in the case were "bouncing around a date in August."

Assistant States Attorney Chris Smith explained when trials are scheduled, a writ, or order for transport, is automatically issued. Because Kinyua was scheduled for a plea hearing however, the transportation order "fell through the cracks."

Harford County State's Attorney Joe Cassilly told Fox News last week Kinyua is expected to plead not criminally responsible for first-degree murder, according to a story on FoxNews.com.

Kinyua was deemed temporarily unfit to stand trial in the case in August of 2012.

Court records show Cassilly submitted a letter to the court stating his office reviewed a report from Clifton T. Perkins and agreed based on the report that Kinyua was incompetent to stand trial.

The ruling meant Kinyua would be treated until found competent to "contribute to his defense," according to a story from The Baltimore Sun.

Based on court records, that time has come. In December, Kinyua pleaded guilty, but not criminally responsible for an attempted murder that took place on the Morgan State campus a week before the Harford County murder.