Mental competency an issue for alleged killer of KCK police captain
Additional mental health testing was ordered Monday for the alleged killer of Kansas City, Kan., Police Captain Robert David Melton.
Attorneys for Jamaal R. Lewis asked a Wyandotte County judge for a third evaluation by a defense expert to determine if Lewis is competent to stand to trial.
Lewis, 21, has already been evaluated locally and at the Larned State Hospital.
District Judge Wes Griffin granted the defense request and set the case for a status hearing on Oct. 5.
In order to be competent for trial, a defendant must understand the nature of court proceedings and be able to assist in their own defense.
Lewis is charged with capital murder and could face a potential death sentence if convicted.
Melton was fatally shot last July while trying to arrest suspects in an earlier drive-by shooting.
Tony Rizzo: 816-234-4435, @trizzkc
This story was originally published August 28, 2017 at 10:28 AM with the headline "Mental competency an issue for alleged killer of KCK police captain."