Psychiatrists are coming.
A Staten Island lawyer was ordered to get his head examined Wednesday after he allegedly sent a “Game of Thrones”-themed threatening letter to discourage a potential witness from testifying against him.
Richard Luthmann — who infamously challenged another lawyer to a trial-by-combat duel inspired by the HBO fantasy series, and is facing charges of extortion, fraud and kidnapping — made the threat in an April 27 letter, prompting prosecutors to demand his bail be revoked.
It’s unclear what Luthmann wrote, as the letter remains under seal — but his attorney said it “took an exact copy of what was said in the show and replaced the names” and suggested it was directed at Luthmann’s estranged wife.
“‘Till death do us part,’ that went out the window for him,” said Arthur Aidala, noting that Luthmann was served divorce papers on his way into Brooklyn federal court Wednesday.
“The potential witness was this man’s best friend. He just got hit with this news and he had an emotional reaction.”
Judge Jack Weinstein responded that the letter is “evidence of a threat” — although he didn’t get the reference.
“I’m not privy to this television program. Anyone sending a letter like that has serious mental problems or is threatening someone,” he said.
Weinstein then ordered Luthmann to undergo a psychological evaluation and revoked his bail.
Luthmann is facing up to life in prison for allegedly running a bogus scrap metal business, and helping a co-defendent collect on debts at gunpoint.
Prosecutors said they intend to add new charges to Luthmann’s case in light of the threats — and for copying and sharing government wiretaps that weer only supposed to be used as trial evidence.
Aidala later acknowledged that his client is “struggling with some mental health issues” given the circumstances.
“Mr. Luthmann by any objective measure is under the most large amount of stress anyone could imagine. His career is in tatters, his personal life is in tatters, his personal liberty is in jeopardy,” he said outside the court.