"Her biblical right to kill": Competency hearing delayed for co-defendant in California City beating

After a woman was attacked in her store last month in California City, one of the two suspected attackers appeared at the Kern County Superior Court Thursday for a competency hearing that was postponed until June.

California City resident Lita Barnes, 59, and her co-defendant Shelton Hickman, 47, of Norwalk are suspected of attacking the 56-year-old shop owner April 30 in the 9000 block of California City Boulevard. Barnes and Hickman were charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury and false imprisonment with violence. Both pleaded not guilty to all charges.

At Thursday’s hearing, the court referred Barnes to Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services for an evaluation before deciding whether she is competent to stand trial.

According to the probable cause statement submitted by California City Police Department to the courts, Barnes was found with blood stains on her arms and neck. It said she admitted to officers that she and Hickman tried to kill the victim.

“Lita told officers that it was her biblical right to kill the victim since Lita claimed the victim was a demon,” the statement read.

Hickman also spontaneously told officers that he went to the victim’s business with Barnes to kill the victim.

In a news release from CCPD, Barnes and Hickman came into the victim’s business and asked for photocopies. The victim told officers she had seen the pair before in her business and that they asked her for money.

While the victim went to make copies, Hickman grabbed the victim and attempted to drag her to the bathroom. Barnes started to hit the woman in the head, face and upper body about 30 times with a pole, according to the news release.

Barnes’ next court hearing is scheduled for June 13. Hickman’s competency hearing is scheduled for May 28. They are each being held on a $500,000 bond.