Covering Louisiana
Doctor to evaluate ex-N.O. cop's mental competency
Posted: Jun 27, 2012 5:40 PM by AP
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A federal judge has appointed a forensic psychiatrist to evaluate the mental competency of a former New Orleans police officer who was sentenced to death for arranging a woman's 1994 murder.
Two court-appointed defense attorneys have claimed Len Davis has a serious mental impairment that rendered him incompetent to stand trial on charges he directed a drug dealer to shoot and kill Kim Groves after she filed a brutality complaint against him.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Helen Berrigan appointed Dr. Ned Masbaum to evaluate Davis at a federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind., as soon as possible and provide an expert report and opinion on his competency.
Davis is representing himself during his post-conviction proceedings. He told Berrigan in April that his standby counsel's incompetency claim is "absurd."
KATC.com is Social!
KATC Videos
Comments