Defense completes psychiatric evaluation of woman charged with stabbing Hartford police officer Jill Kidik

Chevoughn Augustin, the Hartford woman accused of stabbing and seriously wounding Hartford police Officer Jill Kidik, has undergone an evaluation by a psychiatrist hired by her defense attorney.

Public Defender George Flores told Hartford Superior Court Judge Laura F. Baldini on Tuesday that the completed report has been provided to prosecutors. Assistant State’s Attorney Vicki Melchiorre said the state will need to hire an expert to evaluate the report. The case was continued to May 29.

At an earlier court date, Flores said he was considering a mental health defense for Augustin, who remains jailed in lieu of $2 million bail.

Augustin, 39, faces charges including attempted murder, first-degree assault and assault on a police officer stemming from the May 17 attack at the Spectra Boutique apartments that left Kidik, a 12-year department veteran, with deep gashes to her neck.

Kidik was one of two officers dispatched to a call at a downtown apartment building, and Kidik was the first to arrive.

At the apartment, Kidik confronted Augustin and asked for identification, according to a police report. Augustin told detectives that Kidik then “made comments that caused her not to trust her.”

Once Kidik looked at Augustin’s identification, Augustin told detectives that she “decided she wanted to leave.” A scuffle followed.

Augustin told detectives that Kidik took her to the floor and “was saying things to her that she does not remember,” according to the report. That’s when Augustin reached for a Cuisinart chopping knife.

Augustin told detectives that she stabbed Kidik twice in the neck in an effort to get away. Maintenance workers who were nearby rushed to Kidik’s aid and pulled Augustin off of her. Backup officers treated Kidik’s wounds and worked to stanch the bleeding as they rushed Kidik to a waiting ambulance.

David Owens can be reached at dowens@courant.com.