ST. HELENS, Ore. (AP) — The 21-year-old man accused of shooting and killing the police chief of Rainier, Ore., has asked for a mental health examination and to suspend all proceedings in his murder trial.
The attorneys for Daniel Butts of Kalama, Wash., will argue before Judge Ted Grove on Wednesday that Butts needs to be examined by a court-appointed forensic neuropsychologist to see whether he is competent to stand trial.
Butts is charged with aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, robbery, burglary, theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle and recklessly endangering another person. If convicted of aggravated murder, Butts could face the death penalty if prosecutors choose to seek it in the death of Chief Ralph Painter.
Painter was shot after responding to a suspicious person call at a stereo shop.
