TULSA, Okla. (AP) - An attorney for an Oklahoma teenager facing murder and rape charges said there are concerns about the teen’s competency to stand trial.
Assistant Public Defender Marny Hill had a Monday arraignment on two cases for Deonte James Green, 16, taken off the schedule after she became aware of an Office of Juvenile Affairs evaluation that determined Green’s IQ of 59 is significantly below what’s generally accepted in criminal cases, the Tulsa World reported.
Hill said she’s planning to request a hearing to determine whether Green is legally competent to stand trial in either case. She said she also plans to file other motions challenging District Judge Rebecca Nightingale’s decisions on Nov. 30 and March 8 that ordered Green to face trial as an adult in both proceedings.
State law mandates anyone 15 or older who faces a first-degree murder charge to be prosecuted as an adult.
Green is accused in the shooting death of Broken Arrow teacher Shane Anderson, 42, and the reported rape of an elderly woman. He’s also accused of robbing two fast food restaurants and breaking into an east Tulsa residence.
Green’s family previously told the newspaper that they believe he isn’t intellectually capable of understanding the nature of the charges against him and have contended that they should’ve been present during his interview after his arrest because he’s under the age of 18.
Assistant District Attorney Kevin Gray said the state is anticipating arguing over Green’s competency. He said multiple investigators didn’t express concerns in their reports or during his preliminary hearing about his ability to understand their questions.
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Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com
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