Kori Muhammad an expert at pretending to be delusional for his benefit, DA says

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- For three and a half hours over two days, Dr. J. Reid Meloy spent time questioning and analyzing Kori Muhammad in the Fresno County Jail. He spent far more time with the accused killer than two other court-appointed psychiatrists. He found he is rather intelligent and knows how to trick doctors.

"He knows the "shrink talk." He knows how to communicate to a psychologist or psychiatrist when he's being interviewed because he knows what the psychiatrist or psychologist is looking for," said Dr. Meloy.

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While in jail, Muhammad has made many calls to his family and friends. Dr. Meloy listened to 26 of them to see how he acts when he is away from doctors who are documenting his every word.

"When he is talking to other individuals where it is not trying to advance an agenda of impressing upon them that he does have schizophrenia, and he is psychotic- then there's no need for him to articulate any of those symptoms of delusions, hallucinations, or thought disorder," said Dr. Meloy.

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Dr. Meloy agrees Muhammad does have schizophrenia, however, believes he is able to manage it effectively. He concluded the defendant is competent and fit to stand trial.

"So there's no evidence of loss of control over his thinking, over his emotions or over his behavior," said Dr. Meloy.