Mental patient ready for murder trial in Spokane
A psychiatric patient accused of killing another patient at Eastern State Hospital has been found competent to stand trial in Spokane on a murder charge.
Amber Roberts was evaluated at Western State Hospital at Lakewood.
The Spokesman-Review reports the evaluation found she understands the charge and can assist her lawyer in her defense.
Roberts has pleaded not guilty in the November death of Duane Charley. He was strangled with an electrical cord.
Charley had been a patient at the Medical Lake hospital since 1995. Roberts was admitted in 2004 after being found innocent by reason of insanity on an attempted murder charge in a choking case.
