City man determined competent for trial

A 66-year-old Worcester man accused of soliciting the murder of his estranged wife was found mentally competent to stand trial yesterday by a court-designated forensic psychologist.

Richard J. Lariviere is awaiting trial in Worcester Superior Court on three counts of attempted murder, four counts of solicitation to commit a felony and a single count of attempted arson of a dwelling, charges to which he has pleaded not guilty. The owner of the Highland House apartments on Suburban Road, Mr. Lariviere allegedly hired a man to kill his estranged wife, Helen, and set fire to the West Side home of lawyer Robert Weihrauch and his wife, Barbara, friends of Mrs. Lariviere.

Mr. Lariviere, who is out on bail and under house arrest, allegedly wanted the killing and fire to occur before a hearing that was scheduled last September in the Larivieres’ divorce case in Worcester Probate and Family Court. The man he allegedly paid $10,000 to to commit the crimes instead went to the police, investigators said.

Mr. Lariviere underwent a preliminary psychiatric screening in court yesterday at the request of Assistant District Attorney Joseph T. Moriarty Jr., who is prosecuting the case. Mr. Moriarty told Judge Frances A. McIntyre last month that an evaluation was in order because the question of Mr. Lariviere’s mental competency had arisen in the probate court.

Alan Schonberger, the forensic psychologist who conducted yesterday’s evaluation, later told Judge Patrick J. Riley that Mr. Lariviere was likely suffering from a psychiatric illness, namely depression, but seemed mentally competent to stand trial. Mr. Schonberger did not recommend an extended evaluation and said Mr. Lariviere did not appear to pose a danger to himself or others by reason of his mental health.

An Oct. 24 trial date has been set in the case.