Defense Seeks Independent Competency Evaluation for Convicted Murder Defendant

By Will Lawrence [former] - July 19, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge ordered a competency exam for a defendant’s murder case as well as the one he picked up after allegedly escaping St. Elizabeths Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution. The defense is also seeking an independent competency evaluation.

Bernard Coleman III pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for shooting his 43-year-old father, Bernard Coleman Jr., on March 17, 2017. The 28-year-old defendant was awaiting sentencing at St. Elizabeths when, on Oct. 3, 2020, he allegedly escaped. Coleman was apprehended five days later after he and another suspect allegedly robbed a man, tasered him, stabbed his hands and left him handcuffed in a basement for three hours on the 400 block of Chaplin Street, SE. He is now facing armed kidnapping charges.

The following February, Coleman was found competent in both of his cases, but the defense said they want to hire an independent expert to evaluate him. During the July 19 hearing, defense attorney Janai Reed told Judge Michael Ryan they are in the process of admitting a neuropsychologist.

Judge Ryan scheduled another competency examination so the court would not have to proceed using a six-month-old report, saying competency is the type of thing that fluctuates easily.

Judge Ryan scheduled the next hearing for Sept. 16.