The young victim of a 1997 attack in Chicago will not be examined by a psychologist for the defense, a Cook County judge ruled Tuesday. The decision clears the way for the victim, known as Girl X, to testify at the trial of her alleged attacker.
In Rolling Meadows, Circuit Judge Joseph J. Urso refused to let the defense try to determine whether the girl was mentally competent to testify and whether she was repeating other versions of the attack.
Urso denied a similar request before prosecutors said they planned to have the girl testify.
Patrick Sykes is charged with sexually assaulting, beating and poisoning the Cabrini-Green resident when she was 9 and leaving her for dead in a stairwell. Sykes’ trial is scheduled for March 21.
Girl X still has serious physical and emotional problems from the attack but Assistant State’s Atty. William O’Brien said her improving condition played a part in the decision to have her testify.
Defense attorney Robert Byman said prosecutors have turned over two more test results, from the roach spray used to poison the girl and a palm print on a bag found near the scene.
Neither ties Sykes to the crime, Byman said.
“We’re still batting a thousand as far as any physical evidence tying Patrick Sykes to this case,” he said.
