POMEROY — Results of a second psychiatric evaluation of Charles WIlliams, accused of the February murder of a Tuppers Plains woman, are expected to be provided to Common Pleas Court Judge Fred W. Crow III in the coming days.
Williams changed his plea to two counts of aggravated murder and eight other felony counts in August, from not guilty to not guilty by reason of insanity.
At a pre-trial hearing in Williams’ death-penalty murder case Wednesday, Crow said Robert Stinson, whom Crow appointed to complete a second, independent psychiatric evaluation to determine if Williams is competent to stand trial, will also perform a second evaluation — this one based on Williams’ claim he was insane at the time of Doris Jackson’s murder.
Stinson was appointed by Shawnee Forensic Center after Williams’ attorneys, Charles Knight and William Eachus, requested a second evaluation. Results of an evaluation completed earlier this summer have not been made public. That evaulation was court-ordered on Williams’ motion.
Williams allegedly has a long history of mental illness, and has been hospitalized both before and after his arrest in the Williams case due to psychiatric illness. He also served time in prison for threatening the life of President George H.W. Bush.
Meanwhile, potential jurors are being contacted with preliminary jury questionnaires. Those who have not returned those questionnaires will be served a second time, no later than Oct. 31, and ordered to return the questionnaires no later than Nov. 7, a month before Williams’ trial is set to begin.
Prospective jurors will begin appearing on Dec. 4, to fill out a second questionnaire, this one relating to the death penalty. Jurors will be questioned in groups until all 250, not including those excused, have appeared. Those not appearing will be found in contempt of court, Crow’s entry outlining the process said.