“Mental health of murder defendant could be decided Monday - Seattle Times” plus 1 more |
| Mental health of murder defendant could be decided Monday - Seattle Times Posted: 10 Jan 2011 02:16 PM PST A King County Superior Court judge ruled Monday that Isaiah Kalebu, accused of torturing and raping two women, and killing one of them, in their South Park home in July 2009, is mentally competent to stand trial. Since last month, Judge Michael Hayden has heard testimony from mental health experts who have examined Kalebu. When testimony in the case concluded on Monday afternoon Hayden ruled that Kalebu is mentally competent to stand trial. A pre-trial hearing will be held before Hayden on Jan. 14. Defense attorney Michael Schwartz said that Kalebu suffers from severe bipolar disorder and has argued that Kalebu should not be tried. On Monday, Hayden heard from a defense expert and a rebuttal witness from the state. Last summer, Hayden ruled that Kalebu was competent to stand trial, but in late August, lawyers for the defense and prosecution agreed that his mental competency should be re-evaluated. Doctors at Western State Hospital have since determined that he is not mentally ill. Kalebu is charged with aggravated first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree rape and first-degree burglary in the rape and slaying of Teresa Butz, 39, and the attack on her 37-year-old partner on July 19, 2009. Prosecutors and police say Kalebu crawled through an open bathroom window around 1:30 a.m., stripped naked and awoke the two victims. The women were raped repeatedly and slashed with a knife, prosecutors said. Kalebu has a long history of mental illness and been evaluated four times at Western State Hospital since 2008, his lawyers said. In court Monday, Kalebu was strapped to a wheeled restraint chair. Because of Kalebu's documented history of mental illness, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg is not seeking the death penalty. If convicted on the aggravated-murder charge, Kalebu will automatically be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole or early release. Kalebu's trial had been scheduled to begin in November. A new trial date won't be set until after Hayden rules on his mental competency This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Posted: 10 Jan 2011 09:22 AM PST The annual no-pants subway ride happened Sunday. That's right, fun-loving subway riders everywhere were encouraged by a group called Improv Everywhere to drop trou and ride in their underwear, just for a hoot. In New York alone, an estimated 3,500 braved the cold January weather to do it. Sound weird? Well, here in Southern California, merry pranksters gather to moon an Amtrak train once a year. Fun? I guess, but not much of a fashion statement. [Time] It was bound to happen sooner or later: Fast-fashion chain H&M has teamed up for what is believed to be the first collaboration with a fashion blogger, partnering with Swedish darling Elin Kling, who is regarded as that country's leading fashionista. The line is set to launch Feb. 3 in 10 select stores in Sweden, and 10% of sales will be donated to UNICEF. [Telegraph] Gwyneth Paltrow has been making a stir recently, with her new movie "Country Strong," an appearance on "Glee" and a performance at the Country Music Awards, among other things. Now she's just been named a brand ambassador for Swiss watchmaker Baume and Mercier. [WWD] (Subscription required.) Miss America turns 90 this year, as our Jenn Harris reported recently. The pageant could chalk up another "first" this year: Miss Delaware, Kayla Martell, might compete without hair. Martell has alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes sufferers to lose their hair and can leave them totally bald. Although she won the Miss Delaware competition wearing a wig, Miss America organizers have told her she may compete with her head au naturel in the competition Jan. 15 if she chooses to do so. [BellaSugar] The buzz is that Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour is on tap to receive France's highest award, the Legion d'Honneur, this year. British-born Wintour already boasts an Order of the British Empire. [WWD] Retailers across the pond are being warned against using princess-to-be Kate Middleton's name to boost sales. (Think of ads for "the Kate Middleton" dress or hat.) There are no written rules, but courtiers said firms would be warned that they risk running afoul of trademark and copyright laws if they use her full name on merchandise, because the country bans using the names of royals to endorse products and Kate is almost a royal. [Daily Mail] UGGs as high-fashion? EMU Australia, maker of UGG-type boots and other apparel, has announced that it will mount a runway show during New York Fashion Week in February. It won't actually be part of Fashion Week but will take place in NYC at the same time. [The Cut] -- Susan Denley Photo: Gwyneth Paltrow Credit: Peter Kramer / Associated Press This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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