Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct title of the public defender.

A homeless man accused of murdering a Ventura father as he dined inside a beachside restaurant had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf Friday.

Ventura Superior Court Judge Dino Inumerable also increased bail for Jamal Jackson, 49, to $3 million.

A public defender entered the plea because defendant Jackson would not cooperate at his arraignment hearing due to the absence of his private attorney. The defendant said he could not recall his attorney’s first name but said the lawyer had told him he may or may not be at Friday’s hearing because he had to “investigate” the case.

A packed courtroom that included several Ventura County sheriff’s deputies and representatives of media outlets watched the 30-minute hearing unfold as Jackson made his second appearance in the case.

More on this case:

He has been charged in the April 18 fatal stabbing of Anthony Mele Jr., 35, of Ventura. Mele was holding his 5-year-old daughter as they finished dinner with his wife at the Aloha Steakhouse on the Ventura Promenade.

Mele was taken to a local hospital and immediately underwent surgery but was ultimately removed from life support and died April 19. His death was the city’s first reported homicide of 2018.

Jackson’s first court appearance a week earlier was continued at his request because he intended to hire counsel. The defendant wanted to postpone the hearing again Friday so his attorney could represent him.

Then Jackson would not acknowledge that by continuing the hearing, he’d be waiving his right to be arraigned in a speedy manner.

Jackson also told the court he was an FBI agent and had cameras in his eyes. He also said he was having trouble hearing because his “ears went dead“ and at one point became concerned that the arraignment had already happened.

“Your honor, you’re doing my arraignment without my lawyer,” Jackson said.

“How do you know that? You can’t hear,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Richard Simon responded.

Jackson was taken into custody by Ventura police officers minutes after the stabbing occurred. Bystanders who saw the incident chased Jackson onto the beach and stayed there with him until police arrived. He has been in Ventura County jail since the incident.

Simon filed an amended complaint against Jackson during Friday’s hearing. He was charged with felony murder and special allegations claiming it was first-degree murder because the defendant used a deadly weapon and has prior felony convictions. He faces 56 years to life in prison if convicted.

Simon also filed a motion to increase Jackson’s bail to $3 million. His bail previously had been set at $1.05 million. Simon said Jackson was a threat to public safety and the “random” nature of the alleged attack was reason for the increase.

The prosecutor also cited the fact that Mele’s daughter was close to him during the stabbing.

“It’s evil,” Simon said.

Chief Deputy Public Defender Andre Nintcheff tried to step in and help represent Jackson on the bail motion, but the defendant did not want it.

“Stop talking to me,” said Jackson, who repeated the statement multiple times.

Nonetheless, Nintcheff argued against the motion. He said Jackson has made no steps to seek bail, although he’s been in custody for a week and he has not been imprisoned for an offense in the past five years.

The judge sided with Simon, saying a written declaration in support of the increase gave him more details about the incident.

Mele’s slaying has sparked a call for action from those in the community who say the City Council and Ventura Police Department need to do more to address homelessness and vagrancy in the city.

Criticism has also been hurled at the law enforcement agency over the way it responded to a 911 call mere hours before the stabbing in which a man, later identified as Jackson, was reportedly yelling and being disruptive on the Ventura Promenade near the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

All nearby patrol officers were busy handling other calls, so city surveillance cameras were used by those working in the department’s communications center to keep an eye on the man, police said. After more than 20 minutes of watching Jackson, it was determined he was not a threat or a disturbance, so the call was canceled.

Ventura Police Chief Ken Corney said this week that the cancellation never should have happened and an administrative review is being conducted on how that decision was made. He said responding to calls via surveillance camera is not the department’s policy or procedure. That message has also been communicated to department staff, Corney said.

Jackson’s next court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. May 8. The public defender’s office was appointed to help Jackson until his private attorney can step in.