OXNARD : Evaluation in Death Penalty Case Ordered

A judge in a Ventura County death penalty case on Friday appointed a psychologist to evaluate the mental competency of an Oxnard man accused of the kidnap, rape and murder of a mother of four.

Superior Court Judge Lawrence Storch’s order came after a defense attorney claimed Christopher Sattiewhite, 23, suffers from brain damage. Sattiewhite will be examined by psychologist Kathryn Davis of Ventura, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Don Glynn.

Storch ordered a hearing for Sept. 24 to determine Sattiewhite’s mental competency based on the results of Davis’ report. Willard Wiksell, Sattiewhite’s attorney, said he believes the report will show Sattiewhite is not competent to stand trial for the killing of Genoveva Gonzalez, 30, of Oxnard.

“We suspect that Sattiewhite has some brain damage and that’s part of the reason for his alleged criminal behavior,” Wiksell said.

The judge also granted a prosecutor’s motion to have Sattiewhite provide blood samples to see if his blood matches that of Gonzalez’s assailant.

Sattiewhite is also accused of “special circumstances”--that the slaying of Gonzalez occurred during a rape and kidnaping--and of using a firearm.

If found guilty of first-degree murder and the special circumstances, he could be sentenced to die in the gas chamber.

Sattiewhite is currently serving a 21-year sentence in a separate rape case of an Oxnard woman.

Prosecutors said Gonzalez was kidnaped by two men for rape, but was killed after Sattiewhite inadvertently called out an accomplice’s name during the alleged kidnaping. Sattiewhite is accused of being the triggerman in the incident, but his attorney denies he raped the woman.