Accused murderer David McKeever, who was headed for an insanity trial before changing his mind last month and asking for a new lawyer, met his new attorney Monday as the pretrial process restarted in New London Superior Court.

McKeever will now be represented by attorney Christopher Duby.

The 49-year-old New London man is accused of fatally stabbing his longtime girlfriend, Delma Murphy, at their home on 53 Cole St. in November of 2015. McKeever has remained in state custody since a family friend who went to the home to check on Murphy found her body and contacted police.

During his confinement, McKeever was found incompetent to stand trial. He spent six months at the Whiting Forensic Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital, where clinicians said they were able to restore him to competency. In July 2017, McKeever's attorney, M. Fred DeCaprio, announced that McKeever would be seeking an insanity defense and wanted to be tried by a panel of judges rather than a jury. In August, McKeever wrote to Judge Hillary B. Strackbein to say he had changed his mind. He said he wanted to withdraw his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity and wanted a new lawyer.

With members of the victim's family watching from the gallery Monday, Strackbein introduced McKeever to his new lawyer and continued the case to Oct. 11 while Duby begins reviewing the case file.

k.florin@theday.com