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Murder Suspect Refuses Court Appearance, Says He Fears for His Life

By Eddie Small | July 13, 2015 8:49pm
 Spruill, seen here with attorney Cesar Gonzalez at his June 17 court date, said he was too afraid to appear in court on Monday.
Spruill, seen here with attorney Cesar Gonzalez at his June 17 court date, said he was too afraid to appear in court on Monday.
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DNAinfo/Eddie Small

THE BRONX — The man accused of stalking, sexually assaulting and murdering a homeless shelter director said he was too afraid to show up in court on Monday.

West Spruill, who was scheduled for a hearing on whether or not he could serve as his own attorney, refused to enter the courtroom due to safety concerns, according to Judge Margaret Clancy.

"He said that he feared for his life and safety," she said. "Those were the reasons he gave."

Spruill has attempted to act as his own lawyer for the case since his April 29 arraignment, and at the initial hearing on June 17 to determine whether or not he could represent himself. The accused man said that he hated court-appointed lawyers and viewed all of them as incompetent.

Spruill received guidance from his attorney Cesar Gonzalez at multiple points throughout that hearing.

Clancy said on Monday that she needed more time to fully assess Spruill's mental health before she could make a final decision on his request and set the next court date for July 29 at 10 a.m.

Spruill is scheduled to appear at the upcoming court date via video conference, something he had requested at his June 17 hearing.

He was indicted on murder and kidnapping charges in May for the horrific April 27 attack on 36-year-old Ana Charle, director of the Project Renewal shelter at 4380 Bronx Blvd. where sources said Spruill lived for seven months last year.

He followed Charle after she left the shelter and tried to rape her at gunpoint before shooting her three times and killing her, prosecutors charge.

A fundraising site that Charle's coworkers set up to help her children has brought in more than $47,000 since it launched in the spring.

Spruill had previously represented himself during a 2006 felony assault case in Michigan and lost, according to his Gonzalez.