POULSBO — Casey Cutlip’s murder trial has been moved to June 4 while his defense attorney waits for results of the state’s psychological evaluation.
Cutlip, 56, of Poulsbo, is charged in Kitsap County Superior Court with first-degree murder. He is accused of shooting his friend in the head Feb. 21, 2012. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Cutlip was committed to Western State Hospital for a psychological evaluation in June. According to court documents, Cutlip suffered head injuries in two vehicle-related accidents — when he was 9 and 30 — the second of which fractured his skull. According to the reports, Cutlip has had memory problems since those accidents.
Cutlip has been on worker’s compensation since 2002 from the state of Oregon, where he was a construction heavy equipment operator. According to court documents, he is in poor health after five back surgeries and a hip replacement.
“This clinical data would be highly relevant for evaluating the defendant’s self-reported amnesia for his actions bracketing the time of the alleged crimes,” according to his evaluating psychiatrist.
Cutlip called 911 after he admittedly shot Darwin A. Dunker, 74, three times in the head in Dunker’s apartment at Viking Crest Condominiums, 20097 Viking Crest Loop, Poulsbo.
According to the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s report, Cutlip said Dunker made sexual advances toward him in Dunker’s apartment. Cutlip told the Poulsbo detective he repeatedly said no and “finally snapped, went home and got his .22 cal Beretta, returned to Dunker’s apartment and shot him in the head.” Cutlip called 911 at 10:02 p.m. and said he’d shot Dunker.
Poulsbo Sgt. Wendy Davis said previously the two men were known to have been friends for several years.
Cutlip remains held on $1 million bail at Kitsap County Jail.
“He’s been in custody a long time. He obviously could be doing a lot better,” said Tina Robinson, Cutlip’s defense attorney.