Slater declared not competent to stand trial

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Judge orders treatment, evaluation of mental status prior to original December jury date

By Alex Bridges -- abridges@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Accused murderer Justin S. Slater is not mentally competent to stand trial for the June deaths of his brother and ex-girlfriend, a judge ruled Friday.

Slater is charged in Frederick County Circuit Court with the capital murder of two or more people in a three-year span stemming from the deaths of his brother, Gregory Scott Slater Jr., 28, and former girlfriend, Kayleigh Marie Plamondon, 22. He also is charged in Frederick County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court with first-degree murder and a firearm offense in the death of his brother.

The maximum penalty for capital murder in Virginia is death.

Slater, 24, formerly of Buffalo Trail, Shawneeland, appeared Friday for a hearing on motions filed by his attorneys, Timothy Coyne and Joseph Flood. He has been housed at Central State Hospital in Petersburg since Sept. 21 following an incident at the Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center in which he suffered injuries.

Frederick County Commonwealth's Attorney Glenn Williamson told Judge John Prosser he wanted to withdraw his demand for an evidentiary hearing to determine Slater's competency to stand trial.

Two incidents at Northwestern Regional Adult Detention Center, the latest of which led to Slater's hospitalization, prompted the decision, the prosecutor said.

The judge granted the request and declared Slater mentally incompetent to stand trial after reading a forensic psychologist's report from Central State Hospital indicating the defendant remains incapable of aiding in his defense. The doctor stated further treatment with antipsychotic drugs could restore Slater's competency, the judge read.

Prosser ordered the defendant to undergo treatment aimed at restoring his competency and scheduled a review of Slater's mental status for Dec. 2 -- the original date for his jury trial to begin.

The judge's action also puts on hold any speedy trial issues, Flood said outside the courtroom.

A defendant's competency could be restored in a month or never, Flood said.

The ruling cancels out the need for an Oct. 23 evidentiary hearing on Slater's competency to stand trial.

Williamson said it made more sense to have Slater remain at Central State Hospital for treatment rather than have him return to court only for the judge to order him back to the facility if found incompetent.

Slater's injuries "were serious enough that he was hospitalized," Flood said, but he would not disclose whether they were self-inflicted.

Jail Superintendent Bruce Conover said Friday that Slater was taken to Central State Hospital on Sept. 21 after an incident in which he suffered a cut to the head. The inmate claimed it happened when he struck his head on a metal shelf in a cell where he was being held by himself.

Slater had been put there for closer observation after a cellmate told an officer Slater indicated some intention to harm himself, Conover said. Slater received treatment at Winchester Medical Center, was returned to jail, then was taken to Central State Hospital, he added.

Clarke County Commonwealth Attorney Suzanne "Suni" Perka and Winchester Commonwealth Attorney Alex Iden also appeared in court Friday. Clarke County authorities have charged Slater with capital murder of two or more people in three years, a related gun offense, credit card theft and breaking and entering into a house at night with the intent to commit a felony.

A similar incident happened July 1 in which Slater suffered injuries and received treatment at the local hospital. But authorities allege he tried to escape from custody of two jail officers at the hospital, assaulted them and attempted to take their weapons. City authorities charged him with offenses related to the incident.

Special Section: Justin Shane Slater