John Marvin, Jr. is competent to stand trial. Superior Court Judge David George made that ruling on Friday afternoon after hearing from two psychologists give their opinion of Marvin. They both visited Marvin at the Alaska Psychiatric Institute in Anchorage on Wednesday. That was just days after Marvin’s defense attorney asked for another mental evaluation because he said he had difficulty communicating with his client.
Both psychologists, Dr. David Sperbeck and Dr. Lois Michaud, essentially found that the 47-year old Marvin understood the court proceedings, but that he was simply in denial or being evasive. They testified in Juneau Superior Court on Friday afternoon that Marvin’s refusal to talk about important facts in the case may be his only way to control the situation.
Marvin is being charged with murder and weapons misconduct in connection with the deaths of Hoonah police officers Matt Tokuoka and Tony Wallace on August 28, 2010. The weapons misconduct charges may be bifurcated or separated out at trial.
Jury selection is expected to start Monday in Juneau Superior Court with opening arguments planned for Wednesday. The trial could last as long as two weeks.
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