Man accused of stabbing Uber driver allowed to represent himself in Orlando court
ORLANDO, Fla. —
A man accused of trying to kill an Uber driver in a dispute over directions is being allowed to represent himself in the attempted murder case against him.
Related: Bodycam shows arrest of man accused of stabbing Uber driver in Orlando
Jovaughn Matthie, 42, was in court Friday morning for the first time since his arrest on Monday.
Orlando police said he was getting a ride from an Uber driver near downtown and asked him to drive a route different from what GPS recommended.
When the victim said he didn’t want to drive that route and stopped the car, Matthie allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the chest.
Officers said they found Matthie in an IHOP restaurant on East Colonial Drive a short time later.
In court, Matthie told the judge he did not want a lawyer and wanted to represent himself.
Judge Barbara Leach listed off the benefits of having an attorney and the major risks of not having one, including that he likely would not be able to communicate with the victim and would have limited access to legal resources.
“Do you understand these dangers and disadvantages of representing yourself?” Leach asked. “Yes,” Matthie replied.
Matthie told the judge he had twenty years of schooling, including a college degree in ‘food and beverage.’
Leach found he is competent and agreed to let him represent himself.
Matthie will face his first legal test next Friday when he’s set to be back in court for a hearing to decide whether he’s allowed to post bond and get out of jail or will have to stay locked up until his trial.