State v. Nelson

BILLINGS, Justice.

On 11 February 1982 the defendant was arrested and charged with the murder of Frank Junior Ward on 10 February 1982. On the next day Judge Harrell found that the defendant was indigent and appointed Milton F. Fitch, Jr. to represent him. Also on 12 February 1982 the defendant was committed to Dorothea Dix Hospital for observation and examination because it appeared from statements of the District Attorney “and others” that the defendant might be mentally incompetent to plead to the charges. The report from that evaluation stated that the defendant had been discharged from…