Monahan v. State

Petitioner was indicted for murder and second degree arson after he stabbed his mother to death and burned her house. At trial, petitioner raised an insanity defense and presented medical testimony that he was paranoid schizophrenic. The jury returned a verdict of guilty but mentally ill (GBMI). We granted a belated review of petitioner’s direct appeal issue pursuant to White v. State, 263 S.C. 110, 208 S.E.2d 35 (1974), and now affirm.

FACTS

Before trial, defense counsel requested that petitioner be evaluated for competency to stand trial as provided in S.C.Code Ann. § 44-23^10 (2002). In…