ATHENS, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
A judge has ruled a man who confessed to killing one police officer and wounding another is mentally competent to stand trial.
Judge David Sweat made the determination after Jamie Hood's defense team argued he was not competent, a strategy with which Hood himself strongly disagreed.
"We are saying Mr. Hood is incompetent," said Hood's lead defense attorney, Christian Lamar. "Mr. Hood says he is not incompetent."
Hood, who has had a bitterly contentious relationship with his defense team, said he fully understands the severity of the charges against him.
"I feel I am competent. This mental competency hearing is filed for the wrong reason."
This is one of the latest strange twists in a case filled with many bizarre moments.
Hood has admitted to killing Athens-Clarke County Officer Buddy Christian and wounding officer Tony Howard in March 2011.
Hood faces the death penalty if convicted.
Hood has repeatedly disrupted nearly every other hearing with angry outbursts, calling for a new judge and arguing with his own lawyers in court.
The judge ordered Hood removed from court after he repeatedly interrupted, complained that he wanted new attorneys and argued with his lawyers and the judge last July. | Watch the raw video
On Tuesday, however, Hood remained uncharacteristically restrained while his defense team provided the dramatic moments.
Lamar had earlier asked that he be allowed to put himself on the witness stand to testify that Hood was not competent and for the judge to appoint another defense team. Lamar argued his defense strategy would contradict Hood's interests.
"The only way to prove our case is for us to testify."
Athens-Clarke County District Attorney Kenneth Mauldin accused Lamar of trying to stall for more time.
"This is a ridiculous scenario!" Mauldin exclaimed. "It's just an attempt to delay it when it has already been significantly delayed already."
The judge denied Lamar's requests.
Later in the afternoon, Hood's defense lawyers told the judge that they had no witnesses and no arguments to make.
Sweat decided to hear testimony from a court-appointed mental health expert.
Karen Bailey-Smith, who evaluated Hood, said he was in sound enough mind to understand the gravity of the case.
"He is competent to stand trial," Bailey-Smith said. "He definitely had the intellectual skills, the verbal skills, the understanding, skills you'd need to work with your attorneys."
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
Jamie Hood in court
