Thursday, October 14, 2010
Judge Denies Prosecutors' Request
KENTUCKY....
Thursday, U.S. District Judge Thomas B. Russell denied a request by prosecutors to halt a hearing scheduled for February in the case of 27 year old Michael Adam Carneal. Carneal admitted in 1998 to killing three classmates and wounding five others on December 1, 1997 at Heath High School near Paducah and is serving life in prison. He is eligible for parole in 2023. Carneal's attorneys say he was too mentally ill to disclose he was hearing voices at the time of the shooting and plea. Prosecutors say recently discovered letters show Carneal was aware of his mental illness long before he challenged his guilty plea, meaning he filed the appeal too late. Judge Russell ruled Carneal's claim of mental incompetence is "too important" to decide without a full hearing.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 7:34 PM 
