A lawyer for one of the suspects accused of beating and killing Amos Beede at a homeless encampment last May wants to argue self-defense. Myia Barber was in court Monday. Her lawyer, David Sleigh, is requesting copies of Beede's psychiatric records. Sleigh wants to prove he had a long history of violent behavior to support his client's claim of self-defense. Barber and four other people are accused of beating and killing Beede before fleeing to California. The group says it confronted Beede after he dumped urine over its tent. “The argument began to get more and more heated when Mr. Beede then took a swing at Ms. Barber. So in these kinds of events, you can use physical force to prevent an assault on yourself or others if you're acting on their behalf,” Sleigh said. The state argues since the suspects initiated the fight by dragging a sleeping Beede out from his tent, there is no case for self-defense. The judge did not make a ruling on the request Monday. Barber's next hearing has not been scheduled. Download the MyNBC5 app | Like MyNBC5 on Facebook

A lawyer for one of the suspects accused of beating and killing Amos Beede at a homeless encampment last May wants to argue self-defense.

Myia Barber was in court Monday. Her lawyer, David Sleigh, is requesting copies of Beede's psychiatric records.

Sleigh wants to prove he had a long history of violent behavior to support his client's claim of self-defense. Barber and four other people are accused of beating and killing Beede before fleeing to California.

The group says it confronted Beede after he dumped urine over its tent.

“The argument began to get more and more heated when Mr. Beede then took a swing at Ms. Barber. So in these kinds of events, you can use physical force to prevent an assault on yourself or others if you're acting on their behalf,” Sleigh said.

The state argues since the suspects initiated the fight by dragging a sleeping Beede out from his tent, there is no case for self-defense.

The judge did not make a ruling on the request Monday. Barber's next hearing has not been scheduled.

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