Coffee v. State

Nichols, Justice.

Willie James Coffee was indicted, tried and convicted for the murder of Cliffene Jones and sentenced to life imprisonment. The appeal is from this conviction. Prior to trial counsel for the defendant filed a written motion to have a court appointed psychiatrist examine the defendant to determine his mental competency, which motion was granted. On the call of the case for trial the court asked if such examination had been made and counsel for the defendant responded that it was his understanding that the doctor had filed a report and the assistant district attorney responded…