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Show Lafffferty Mai set April 25 Judge rules second brother competent for judgment Jury selection for the murder trial of Ronald Watson Lafferty is scheduled to begin Thursday, April 25, according to a decision handed down by Fourth District Court Judge J.Robert Bullock Tuesday. Bullock and attorneys involved in Ihe case hammered out an agreement on the date Tuesday afternoon. The trial date was set after Bullock declared Lafferty competent com-petent Monday to stand trial on homicide charges in connection with the murder of his sister-in-law and her infant daughter. Lafferty is charged with first degree homicide in connection with the July 24, 1984, slaying of Brenda Wright Lafferty and 15-month old Erica Lane Lafferty in their American Fnrk home. After studying testimony from Lafferty and from mental-health experts presented during a competency com-petency hearing last week, Judge Bullock issued his ruling Monday. In the order, Judge Bullock said after fully coi.iiidct iiig the tl,;:ui;iy of all the witnesses at the April 2 closed hearing; the testimony of the defendant at competency hearings on Jan. 28 and March 19; along with written evaluation reports of alienists (doctors) and having talked with Lafferty on several occasions, "the Court is convinced that the defendant Ronald W. Lafferty Laf-ferty is not unable to comprehend the nature of the proceedings against him or the punishment specified for the crimes charged." Judge Bullock also said the Court is convinced that Lafferty can assist counsel in his own defense if he chooses to do so. Accordingly, Bullock ruled that Lafferty is not "incompetent to proceed" as that term is defined by statute. . Tn an unusual move, Judge Bullock ordered Lafferty back to the Utah State Hospital instead of the Utah County Jail when he is not involved in court proceedings, writing, that Lafferty "may pose a serious physical threat to himself and others." The defendant has been confined to the hospital since he attempted to hang himself in his Utah County jail cell last December. Bullock ordered anyone involved in the case or in the competency hearing to refrain from discussing the case with anyone until after, the trial or a new court ordef is issued, except as may be necessary in the course of preparing for the trial. Whether Lafferty is granted a change . of venue is one of several legal issues that must be cleared up before a trial can get underway. Bullock may also have to consider whether Lafferty is capable of representing himself - as he has done since he was arrested for the murders last August. Last week's competency hearing was the fourth for Lafferty since his arrest in Reno, Nev. on Aug. 7, 1984. His brother Dan is serving a two consecutive life sentences at the Utah State Prison in connection with the double homicides. |