Killer denied bid to assist in his defense
A 33-year-old man serving a 55-year sentence for one murder and awaiting trial on another wanted to assist his court-appointed attorney with his defense Friday.
Allen Superior Court Judge John Surbeck would not allow Joseph A. Kast to serve as co-counsel with his attorney, William Lebrato, on a charge he murdered 85-year-old Claude Berkshire inside the man’s Juliet Avenue garage in June 2002.
Lebrato asked Surbeck to appoint mental health experts to examine Kast, announcing he plans to argue Kast suffered from a mental disease or defect at the time.
In July 2002, Kast fatally stabbed Huntington County building inspector Earl Bowman at a rural job site. Arrested shortly after the attack, Kast tested positive for methamphetamine and marijuana. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 55 years in prison, where he was until the new charges were filed.
Allen County prosecutors added additional charges Friday to the criminal case against local lawyer Daniel E. Serban after investigators said he admitted misappropriating money from an estate account.