The creepy voice of the “Son of Sam” crackled through in Manhattan Supreme Court yesterday for just a fraction of a second after he was patched in from his upstate high-security prison by speakerphone. He only managed to say “good afternoon” before the presiding judge said he was only to listen in as the hearing began.

David Berkowitz, who is serving 25 years to life for a string of six brutal murders in the 1970s, is suing the man who wrote a book, “Dear David . . . ,” documenting the letters Berkowitz has received since being incarcerated more than a quarter of a century ago.

He wants his bar mitzvah photos, a broken typewriter, and two boxes of letters, photos, and other personal items back, his lawyer, Mark Heller, said in court yesterday. Mr. Heller represented Berkowitz at his arraignment after he was first captured in 1977.

The author of the book of letters, Hugo Harmatz, a New Jersey lawyer, said Berkowitz was entirely behind the project for the two years Mr. Harmatz was working on it. After the book came out last year, Mr. Harmatz said he was blindsided by court papers demanding the items be returned.

“Not a single item was stolen from Mr. Berkowitz,” Mr. Harmatz said. “The purpose of this lawsuit is to get attention and upset the people of New York.”

The lawyer for Mr. Harmatz, Kevin Conway, tried to have the case thrown out in the hearing with Judge Sherry Heitler, claiming the suit had no factual basis.

When the lawsuit was first filed last summer, Mr. Harmatz offered to return all of the items, but Mr. Heller and Berkowitz wanted to turn the issue into a “circus,” Mr. Harmatz said.

Judge Heitler didn’t make a decision yesterday whether to allow the civil suit to continue, but she ruled that all of the items in question be temporarily stored at Mr. Conway’s office until the matter is resolved.

Mr. Harmatz said he hadn’t returned the items because he is beginning a second, more detailed book about Berkowitz, focusing in part on what happened to the families of the victims years later. But his lawyer, Mr. Conway, says Mr. Harmatz was “gifted” the items by Berkowitz and therefore has no legal obligation to return them.

Since being incarcerated, Berkowitz has become extremely religious and has served as chaplain’s assistant in the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, N.Y., where he is imprisoned. He considers himself a Jew for Jesus, and a publication of his religious journal writings in prison was titled “Son of Hope.” The New York “Son of Sam” law prevents him from making any money from his crimes, so any money he makes is given to a charity of his choosing.

Berkowitz’s voice wasn’t the only presence of the notorious serial killer in court yesterday. Two people from the Cry Ministry, who said Berkowitz considers them “close family,” brought what they said was Berkowitz’s worn, red-leather Bible as a gift to Mr. Heller for agreeing to represent him in the case. They said it was about 18 years old.

“He’s a changed man,” Mary-Ann Skubus said. “A miracle happened in this man’s life. Jesus Christ, set this man free.”