A 48-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing his live-in girlfriend at their New London home in November has remained uncommunicative during meetings with his attorney and with a clinical team assigned to evaluate his competency, according to court officials.

David McKeever, who is charged with murdering 46-year-old Delma Murphy at their home at 53 Cole St. on Nov. 18, appeared disheveled and was supported by two judicial marshals during his appearance Thursday in New London Superior Court. 

Several members of the victim's family watched from the gallery.

Attorney M. Fred DeCaprio said McKeever has been unresponsive during meetings with him and with members of a state clinical team ordered by the court to evaluate whether he is competent to stand trial. 

The attorney who handled his initial court appearance in November said McKeever has a history of hospitalizations for mental illness and was not currently taking medication.

Court officials said also that he is legally blind and hearing-impaired.

McKeever is being held at the Garner Correctional Institution, the state's prison for mentally ill inmates.

Prosecutor Lawrence J. Tytla said correction officials may be able to provide treatment that will "have some bearing on Mr. McKeever's communication."

Tytla said the clinical team performing the court-ordered competency evaluation needs more information about McKeever before it can determine whether he is competent to stand trial or whether he can be restored to competency after a stint at the Whiting Forensic Institute.

Judge Hillary B. Strackbein continued the case to Jan. 15 for a status report on the Department of Correction actions.

She told McKeever's attorney she would continue to waive the time period for a probable cause hearing until DeCaprio is able to speak with McKeever.

As a defendant in a murder case, McKeever is entitled to a hearing within 60 days of his arrest, at which the state is required to prove it has enough evidence to prosecute him.

According to a police report, a friend who was concerned about Murphy went to the home on Nov. 18, spoke with McKeever and found Murphy in her bed, cold to the touch.

The friend called 911, and first responders found blood on the wall leading to the second-floor bedroom and the steps. They found a large, blood-stained knife on the floor at the top of the stairs.

Police said Murphy had suffered multiple stab wounds about her body and had what appeared to be defensive wounds on her hands.

The couple had a history of domestic violence.

According to police, McKeever admitted stabbing Murphy. He said he had become upset a few nights earlier and left the house. He said Murphy asked him to come back into the house so she could calm him down.

"I thought I could control her with my mind, so I stabbed her with a knife," he told police.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN