In their motion, prosecutors argued that the initial evaluation showed Alissa is aware of his legal predicament. “Defendant indicates an understanding of his charges, the potential sentence, the roles of the judge, prosecutor, and defense attorney,” the prosecution motion said. In objecting to the prosecution request, defense attorneys said Alissa mistakenly believes he could be executed if found guilty. “The death penalty is not a potential sentence in this case, and the report reflects his (Alissa’s) fixation on that as a sentence,” the defense motion said. Under Colorado law, a judge is required to conduct a competency hearing before ruling on whether a defendant is mentally fit to stand trial.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer October 11, 2021 20:15 UTC