Judge rules suspect in Ohio school shooting is competent

CHARDON (AP) — A 17-year-old charged in a school shooting is mentally competent to stand trial in juvenile court in the deaths of three students, a judge ruled Wednesday after considering evidence that the boy suffers from hallucinations, psychosis and fantasies.
None of the symptoms detailed in a mental evaluation of T.J. Lane would prevent him from understanding the case against him and helping in his defense, Dr. Phillip Resnick told Judge Timothy Grendell in Geauga County Juvenile Court.
The judge accepted the findings and ruled that Lane is mentally fit to stand trial in juvenile court. The charges filed against him include three counts of aggravated murder and two counts of attempted aggravated murder.
The judge postponed until May 24 a hearing on whether Lane may be tried as an adult. Grendell said his ruling on mental competency may not be used in other legal proceedings, meaning the issue may be revisited in adult  court.

By THOMAS J. SHEERAN
Associated Press

Posted by Daily Chief on May 3, 2012. Filed under State News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry