Posted 10:13 am Friday, February 08, 2013
Send to Kindle
JT student accused of 2009 brutal stabbing of teacher recommitted to state hospital
BY ADAM RUSSELL
arussell@tylerpaper.com
The 19-year-old accused of stabbing a John Tyler High School teacher to death in 2009 was committed to a state hospital for one more year.
arussell@tylerpaper.com
The 19-year-old accused of stabbing a John Tyler High School teacher to death in 2009 was committed to a state hospital for one more year.
The commitment hearing in Judge Christi Kennedy's 114th District Court took place Friday morning.
Judge Kennedy found Byron Truvia incompetent to stand trial in June 2011, and ordered another year of commitment at Vernon State Hospital in northern Texas. Truvia is accused of killing his special education teacher, Todd Henry, in September 2009 after stabbing him multiple times.
Judge Kennedy referenced a psychiatrist's report and a physician's certificate of mental health from Dr. Nancy Barrow, chief psychiatrist with the Texas State Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.
The judge said the psychiatrist found that Truvia is mentally ill and likely to cause “serious harm to others.”
Aside from Ms. Barrow's assessment of Truvia, Judge Kennedy also cited “recent issues” and “patterns of behavior” as reasons to recommit him.
Jim Huggler, Truvia's defense attorney, would not comment after the hearing.
Truvia, who was a 16-year-old juvenile when he allegedly stabbed Henry, was transferred to the adult court when he turned 18. In 2011, Huggler said Truvia will never be tried as an adult even if he is found to be mentally competent at some point because Truvia was never certified as an adult.
“There could still be a trial in the future for Truvia,” Huggler said at the time. Huggler added that before someone can stand trial, he or she must be found competent. The defense attorney added that there is no statute of limitations on murder.
The next hearing for Truvia is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2014.
Judge Kennedy referenced a psychiatrist's report and a physician's certificate of mental health from Dr. Nancy Barrow, chief psychiatrist with the Texas State Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.
The judge said the psychiatrist found that Truvia is mentally ill and likely to cause “serious harm to others.”
Aside from Ms. Barrow's assessment of Truvia, Judge Kennedy also cited “recent issues” and “patterns of behavior” as reasons to recommit him.
Jim Huggler, Truvia's defense attorney, would not comment after the hearing.
Truvia, who was a 16-year-old juvenile when he allegedly stabbed Henry, was transferred to the adult court when he turned 18. In 2011, Huggler said Truvia will never be tried as an adult even if he is found to be mentally competent at some point because Truvia was never certified as an adult.
“There could still be a trial in the future for Truvia,” Huggler said at the time. Huggler added that before someone can stand trial, he or she must be found competent. The defense attorney added that there is no statute of limitations on murder.
The next hearing for Truvia is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2014.
