Judge Doesn’t Rule on Murder Defendant’s Competency After Defense Attorney Doesn’t Show

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A murder defendant’s attorney did not show up to an April 8 mental observation hearing. 

Aaron Smith, 24, is charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing of his 60-year-old father, Edward Smith, on the 2100 block of 36th Place, SE on Feb. 12. 

The defendant was found to be competent to stand trial in his misdemeanor cases, but Judge Milton Lee did not rule on the murder case.

Judge Lee said he did not want to presume the same results of the mental exam for the felony case and since defense attorney Ronald Resetarits was not present and the other attorney, Laura Rose, was unavailable, the hearing must be continued to another date.

The mental observation hearing was rescheduled for April 29.

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