The Associated Press

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) — An Indiana judge has ruled a man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and eating parts of her body can reject an insanity defense.

Joseph Oberhansley is accused of killing and mutilating 46-year-old Tammy Jo Blanton in Jeffersonville in 2014. He faces trial on Aug. 19.

Oberhansley filed a motion last month to withdraw the insanity defense, which defense attorneys promoted in January. The 38-year-old Oberhansley told the judge he felt using the defense would admit guilt and is unlikely to work.

"What is the mental illness disorder that I'm ... supposed to have?" Oberhansley asked during a pretrial conference in late May, according to the News and Tribune. ""I don't like being portrayed in the light that [I am]. I don't suffer from any mental illness."

Joseph Oberhansley cannibal case:A timeline of the suspect

In a ruling filed Tuesday, Clark County Circuit Court Judge Vicki Carmichael used related case law to support her finding on the importance of allowing a defendant to make decisions on key elements of the case.

Defense attorney Brent Westerfeld declined to comment on the ruling Wednesday.