Judge puts limits on testimony in psychological fitness trial

A judge's ruling Wednesday will severely restrict testimony Lake County prosecutors can introduce about the legal knowledge of a Kildeer man in his psychological fitness trial.

A jury will be asked to decide if Paul Olsson, 20, meets the legal requirement of psychological fitness to stand trial on charges he molested four boys in 2005 while working at Lincolnshire Bath and Tennis Club.

The law says Olsson must be able to understand the charges against him, have a basic understanding of the legal process and be capable of assisting in his own defense.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorneys Ari Fisz and Reginald Matthews had planned to call as many as 15 Lake County jail employees to testify about Olsson's use of the law library there.

The lawyers planned to show Olsson has been doing legal research and filing motions on his own behalf, even though the Lake County public defender's office is appointed to represent him.

Their objective was to show Olsson had more than sufficient knowledge of the law to meet the standard and was in fact attempting to assist in his own defense.

But Assistant Public Defender Keith Grant objected to the move, saying he learned of the plan Tuesday night and had not been given sufficient notice.

Grant said it would be impossible for him to interview the witnesses on the prosecution's list and prepare to cross-examine them.

Associate Judge Christopher Stride agreed and said Fisz and Matthews could not call any witnesses to testify about Olsson's law library use during their main case.

Depending on what comes out in testimony on both sides of the case, Stride said, he may consider allowing some limited testimony about the law library activity as rebuttal to defense testimony.

Olsson was found unfit for trial in September, but psychologists for the state Department of Human Services said he had been restored to fitness in December.

However, a psychologist appointed by the court in January issued a report saying it was her opinion Olsson remained unfit to stand trial.

The jury in the case this week will not be asked to determine if Olsson committed the crimes he is charged with, only if his mental state will allow him to have a fair trial on those charges.