EDMOND, Okla. — An attorney plans to seek a competency hearing for a 19-year-old Oklahoma murder suspect whose brother told investigators he said he killed their parents because he thought they were Satan worshippers communicating with him telepathically. Walker’s attorney, Derek Chance, who entered a not guilty plea on his client’s behalf, said he would expect to seek a not guilty by reason of insanity defence if he isn’t found incompetent for trial. Chance acknowledged such defences have rarely succeeded in Oklahoma murder trials. “He’s very mentally ill, and even at this point it’s difficult even for us to get through to him in any of our meetings,” Chance said. The insanity defence was successful for Christian Costello, 30, who a judge ruled in April 2018 was not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2015 stabbing death of his father, state Labor Commissioner Mark Costello.

Source: National Post March 14, 2019 18:56 UTC