POMEROY — The death penalty murder trial of Charles Williams has been continued until early December while a second psychiatric evaluation of the defendant is completed and the defense prepares for a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Attorneys Charles Knight of Pomeroy and William Eachus of Gallipolis, Williams’ court-appointed defense counsel, filed a motion to continue Williams’ trial, set for Sept. 28, for at least 90 days, “on the basis that the defendant requires additional time to prepare both its defense of not guilty by reason of insanity and related mental examinations.”

Williams is charged with two counts of aggravated murder and eight other charges in the robbery and strangulation death of Doris Jackson of Tuppers Plains in February. When he was first arraigned, Williams denied the charges, but reserved the right to change his plea to one of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Shawnee Forensic Center, Portsmouth, conducted a psychiatric evaluation earlier this summer, but the results were never made part of the court record.

A court entry filed after a Monday hearing indicated the trial will be continued to Dec. 7.

A hearing on a motion to suppress evidence will be held Sept. 9. According to the defense motion to continue, the trial must be rescheduled to allow the defense team to review incoming discovery, and to prepare motions to suppress statements allegedly made by Williams, and numerous searches of Williams’ home and other areas.

Prosecuting Attorney Colleen S. Williams, Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Donahue, Knight, Eachus and Judge Fred W. Crow III began a review of jury questionnaires returned by potential jurors in the case Monday. The pool of prospective jurors was drawn in a special jury draw earlier this summer, from voter registration records.

Williams will be subject to the second evaluation in Washington County Jail, where he has been housed since being moved from Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail in Nelsonville. A report on the evaluation is due to Crow within 30 days.

Williams, according to documents filed by his defense attorneys, has received psychiatric care for many years and was once imprisoned for threatening the life of President George H.W. Bush. He has reportedly made attempts on his life since being jailed on the charges in the Jackson murder.