Judge says accused not ready for trial in art gallery murder.(B SECTION)

Byline: TODD RUGER todd.ruger@heraldtribune.com

SARASOTA -- Referring to himself as "The Lord God Elton Brutus Murphy," the man accused of murdering a downtown art gallery owner said Wednesday in court that he isn't mentally ill and his trial should start as soon as possible.

"The Joyce Wishart murder trial must not be delayed," Murphy told Circuit Judge Andrew Owens at a hearing on his competency to stand trial.

Owens ruled that the trial will be put off until Murphy can be medicated for mental illness. Experts predicted that would take six to 18 months.

"He does not have a rational understanding of the factors" of the law, Owens said. …