James Thompson, (Hall County Department of Corrections, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND – Hall County District Judge Andrew Butler ordered a second competency hearing Jan. 17 for an Ohio man accused of fatally stabbing a Missouri man and seriously stabbing the man’s wife.
James D. Thompson, Jr., 22, of Elyria, Ohio, was in court Jan. 17 because he wanted to represent himself in his case.
Hall County Chief Public Defender Jeff Loeffler is representing Thompson. Loeffler filed a motion to withdraw as Thompson’s attorney on Dec. 18, because Thompson stated that he wanted to represent himself.
Prosecutors in the case are Hall County Attorney Marty Klein and Attorney Mike Jensen of the Nebraska Attorney General’s office.
Butler ordered that the Hall County Sheriff’s Office transport Thompson as soon as possible to the Lincoln Regional Center for an evaluation. The evaluation is to be completed by a psychiatrist or equivalent doctor. A competency hearing will be held upon receipt of the evaluation.
Butler wants to find out whether Thompson has the capacity to understand the nature and object of the proceedings against him. Second, the judge wants to determine whether Thompson has the capacity to comprehend his own condition. Also, the judge wants to find out whether Thompson has the present capacity to make a rational defense.
Loeffler’s motion to withdraw as Thompson’s attorney is pending, awaiting results of the competency hearing.
Thompson was charged June 20 with 11 felonies including first-degree murder in the stabbing death of a Missouri man and severe stabbing of his wife at the westbound Interstate 80 rest area at mile marker 316.
Thompson was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, five counts of using a deadly weapon to commit a felony, first-degree assault, two counts of attempted robbery, and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest (willfully reckless).
He was attempting to steal a Jeep that was being pulled behind an RV camper.
Gary Weaver, 72, of Eureka, Mo., was pronounced dead at the hospital. His wife, Mary Weaver, 71, suffered life-threatening injuries and was in critical condition at the hospital,
according to the Hall County Sheriff. She was later released from the hospital.
