State v. Erick O. Magett

¶ 1. This fact-intensive case focuses on the second phase of a bifurcated criminal trial in which the defendant entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect (NGI). The defendant, Erick Magett (Magett), was found guilty of a felony in the first phase of the trial. The jury was expected to determine whether the defendant met his burden on his NGI plea in the second phase. Under circumstances that will be explained, the Grant County Circuit Court, George S. Curry, Judge, dismissed Magett's NGI plea before commencement of the second phase in which the jury was to determine…