Jun 2, 2009 4:00 pm US/Mountain
Prosecutors: Doctors Say Murder Suspect Competent
TRINIDAD, Colo. (AP) ―
Doctors at the state mental hospital have found a Trinidad man competent to stand trial in last year's beating death of an acquaintance.
But Las Animas County District Attorney Frank Ruybalid says a legal ruling is still pending on whether Eric Blocker, 20, is competent to face trial in the November 2008 death of David E. Doyle.
Blocker allegedly beat the 58-year-old Doyle at Doyle's Trinidad home after the man refused to let Blocker borrow his truck.
In March, 3rd Judicial District Chief Judge Claude Appel ordered a second round of mental evaluations because doctors at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo were unable to determine Blocker's competency level.
Defense attorneys will announce June 26 whether they'll seek a second opinion.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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