GOSHEN – The federal government intends to agree to a psychiatric examination of Grafton Thomas, the Greenwood Lake man accused in the December machete attack on a Hanukkah ceremony in a Rabbi’s Monsey home.
At the moment, Thomas is being held in Westchester County Jail.
Thomas’ attorney, Michael Sussman of Goshen, noted he has a concurrent case in Rockland County Court. “I do need access to him as do teams of people I have working with me so we can evaluate his situation and prepare for a defense in the case that he is incompetent to stand trial we have to proceed in an either-or way. We can’t rely on one thing or the other, so having him at a great distance, for instance in North Carolina or even in (New York) City makes it harder to prepare,” he said. “So, we are talking to the federal government about that.”
Thomas faces federal and local charges of attempted murder in the case.
Five people were injured when he allegedly entered the home and swung a machete. At last word, one elderly man remains in serious condition.
