An attorney appointed to represent murder suspect David McKeever requested a competency examination for McKeever when the 48-year-old New London man made his first appearance Tuesday in the court where major crimes are tried.

McKeever is accused of fatally stabbing 46-year-old Delma Murphy, his live-in girlfriend, at their home at 53 Cole St. in New London last month. 

A friend who went to check on Murphy on Nov. 18 after Murphy was not seen for a few days called police after finding the victim dead in an upstairs bedroom.

First responders said there was blood on the wall and stairs and a large, blood-stained knife on the floor at the top of the stairs. 

McKeever admitted he had stabbed Murphy with a knife following an argument, according to a police report.

McKeever is being held in lieu of $1.25 million at the Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown.

During his first appearance in Superior Court on Nov. 19, officials said McKeever is legally blind, hearing impaired and mentally ill.

On Tuesday, attorney M. Fred DeCaprio from the public defender's office, appointed to represent McKeever, asked Judge Hillary B. Strackbein to order a competency evaluation to determine whether McKeever is able to understand the court proceedings and assist in his defense.

The judge ordered the evaluation and continued the case to Jan. 7. McKeever will be evaluated by a team of clinicians who will report their findings to the court.  

McKeever did not enter a plea to the murder charge, since he is entitled to a hearing on probable cause within 60 days of his arrest.

DeCaprio, who eventually will notify the court whether McKeever chooses to have such a hearing, waived the time requirement for the hearing.

Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Lawrence J. Tytla will be prosecuting the case.

If McKeever opts for a probable cause hearing, Tytla would call witnesses and present evidence in an effort to convince the judge there is enough evidence to prosecute McKeever for murder.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN