Defendant brings feces to court

TAMPA -- Robert Sinclaire Lee, right, is trying very hard to convince court officials that he's not competent to stand trial.

First, he hid a razor in his mouth and used it to cut his wrist in court. Later, he smeared feces on his face and licked it.

Today, he hid feces in his jail jumpsuit pocket.

The smell followed him into the court but didn't achieve its purpose. Hillsborough Circuit Judge Robert Foster agreed with doctors who said Lee, 27, is competent and ordered jury selection to begin this afternoon.

"Take care of his personal hygiene between now and then," the judge said. "I can smell him up here."

Lee is charged with multiple felony counts, including attempted murder, attempted armed robbery and aggravated assault. Authorities say he held employees at the Panda Express on 56th Avenue N in Temple Terrace at gunpoint on Oct. 25, 2006, in an attempt to rob the place.

A deliveryman for the business thwarted the attempt, authorities say, shooting at an armed, unidentified co-defendant outside the business, then going inside and exchanging shots with Lee.

The deliveryman was unharmed. But Lee was hit twice, with one shot hitting his testicle.

Prosecutor Dereck Capaz said professionals at the state's mental hospital determined that Lee was malingering. Capaz said officials have jail phone call recordings that back the theory that Lee is faking his illness.

If Lee acts up during his trial, Foster said the options for containing him include binding and gagging him, finding him in contempt of court or taking him out of the courtroom completely.

- Colleen Jenkins, Times staff writer

-- Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office booking photo