A Fort Dodge man awaiting trial for attempted murder plans to raise the insanity defense at trial.

On Feb. 18, defense for Reino Valentino Bodady filed a notice of the affirmative defense and a request for a good cause hearing to allow the late filing of the notice, as required by Iowa’s criminal procedure rules.

Bodady, 38, of Fort Dodge, is charged with attempted murder, a Class B felony, for allegedly stabbing a 71-year-old female relative with a knife in the neck and abdomen in the early hours of Oct. 26, 2020.

Bodady was ordered to undergo an evaluation of his ability to understand the trial proceedings and his competency to assist in his own defense in April 2021.

In December 2021, Bodady was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial and ordered to undergo competency restoration at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (Oakdale). He was later ruled competent to stand trial last month.

Competency to stand trial and the insanity defense are not the same. The insanity defense is about the defendant’s state of mind at the time of the offense, while competency refers to the defendant’s ability to understand the proceedings and effectively assist in his defense.

In a pretrial conference on Monday, Bodady’s good cause showing for the late filing of the affirmative defense notice was accepted.

A trial is scheduled for May 10 at the Webster County Courthouse.