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Psychiatric Test Ordered for Man Accused of Killing Upper East Side Woman

By DNAinfo Staff on October 15, 2010 7:53pm  | Updated on October 16, 2010 10:31am

David Tarloff, 42, on the first day of his trial Tuesday.
David Tarloff, 42, on the first day of his trial Tuesday.
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DNAinfo/John Marshall Mantel

By Shayna Jacobs

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — The trial of a mentally ill man who admitted to stabbing an Upper East Side psychiatrist to death may be on hold after a judge ordered another psychiatric exam Friday.

Accused murderer David Tarloff, 42, refused to leave his holding cell Friday afternoon as jury selection in his trial was nearing an end.

Since the trial began Tuesday, Tarloff has been muttering to himself, blowing kisses in the air, contorting his face and was found in an unresponsive "catatonic state" in his cell Friday, his lawyer said.

Tarloff's lawyer also said that his client has refused to eat sandwiches and drink milk provided in jail.

"He's probably as bad right at this moment as he was when he was last found unfit," his attorney Bryan Konoski said, explaining the stress of the trial and the possible outcome have been getting to his client.

David Tarloff will undergo another psych examination Monday morning.
David Tarloff will undergo another psych examination Monday morning.
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DNAinfo/John Marshall Mantel

If Tarloff is deemed unfit again on Monday morning, when the test is performed, the trial could be put on hold again. He's been found unfit before.

Opening statements are tentatively scheduled for early next week but could be put off pending the outcome of the tests.

The family of the victim, Kathryn Faughey, has been waiting for the trial of her alleged killer, and was disheartened by the potential roadblock.

"The whole family is going to be very upset by this after all this time," Faughey's brother, Owen, said. "It's really very upsetting news."