JACKSON COUNTY — A 27-year-old man accused of the August 2016 murder of a former Salem woman is refusing to speak with a doctor about his mental state but the court is moving forward with the case anyway.

Robert Dennis is one of three people charged with murder in the death of Robin Stief. Officers found her badly-burned body near Piles Fork Creek in Carbondale in August 2016.

Back in October, Judge William Schwartz ordered a mental fitness exam for Robert Dennis after declaring a mistrial.

Dennis went off on a tirade in front of a jury and the judge said there’s doubt about if he can handle another trial.

Dennis is representing himself and told Judge Bloodworth he refuses to speak to the doctor because it goes against his Scientology beliefs, a point he’s made previously in court.

Dennis talked about a number of issues Thursday, accusing co-defendant Lauren Stinde of lying to investigators and accusing the court of tampering with evidence.