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| Deadline Issued for Sheley Mental Evaluation |
A Knox County Judge is ordering that an expert be picked to conduct a mental evaluation on suspected spree killer Nicholas Sheeley next week.
Sheley appeared in court Friday morning with his attorneys, public defender Jim Harrell and co-counsel Jeremy Karlin, for a hearing to extend the discovery deadline because of the large number of documents provided by the prosecution. Judge James Stewart granted a continuance in that matter, and also issued an order related to the question of Sheley's mental fitness.
Sheley is slated to undergo a fitness examination to determine whether he's fit to stand trial, and a judge earlier this week issued a gag order that was worked out by the prosecution and the defense. The order is in response to an interview Sheley gave to the Associated Press in the Knox County Jail, where he's being held on $10-million bond. Both sides in the case argued that Sheley's interview compromised the fairness and integrity of the trial.
Judge Stewart told the prosecution and defense to come to an agreement on selecting an expert to conduct Sheley's mental examination by Wednesday. Stewart said if the two sides can't agree on someone, the court will make the choice. Whoever does the evaluation has 30 days to report back to the court.
Sheley is charged in Knox County with 10 counts of first degree murder and seven other felony counts related to the death of 65-year old Ronald Randall of Galesburg in late June. Sheley faces five additional murder charges in Whiteside County and two Jefferson County, Missouri.
After Friday's public court proceedings, the judge and the defense team met in an ex parte hearing, which is held without the public or the prosecution present.
Sheley is scheduled to return to court October 31st for a case management hearing.
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| 09 26 08 by Newsroom |
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