Murder suspect appears in court

A judge entered not-guilty pleas on accused murderer Markeith Loyd’s behalf Wednesday and ordered that an attorney be appointed as standby counsel after Loyd claimed the charges he faces were not entered against him, but against a corporation created in his name.

“For the record I wanna state that I am Markeith Loyd, flesh and blood human being,” he said in court Wednesday. “… MARKEITH LOYD, in all capital letters, that’s not me. That’s a corporation that was created at my birth that I do not accept. That’s not me.”

That argument is sometimes used by people who consider themselves sovereign citizens and believe they are not subject to the jurisdiction of any government.

“It’s oftentimes misguided, but it’s not the first time the court has heard that position,” Orange-Osceola Chief Judge Frederick Lauten told Loyd.

Loyd is accused in the Dec. 13 death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Sade Dixon, and the Jan. 9 killing of Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton, who tried to arrest him at a Walmart on Princeton Street and John Young Parkway. Prosecutors said Wednesday they haven’t decided if they’ll seek the death penalty.

Loyd was scheduled to enter a plea at an arraignment last week, but he asked that the hearing be delayed because he had not received a copy of the complaint that explains the charges and evidence against him. Lauten agreed and ordered the documents sent to him.

On Wednesday, the judge asked Loyd to enter a plea. When Loyd continued to talk about whether the charges apply to him, Lauten said he would enter notguilty pleas on his behalf. Then Lauten again began a hearing to determine whether defendants who want to represent themselves are competent to make the decision.

As he asked whether Loyd understood that he has the right to an attorney, Loyd brushed him off.

“I don’t care, I’m representing myself,” he said. “There ain’t nothing you all can do to me, nothing this courtroom can do to me. Worst thing that happened to me already happened … Strap me up right now.”