DAYTON — A man accused of killing a couple in their home with a sledgehammer appeared in court on Thursday.
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As reported on News Center 7 at 5:30, Courtney Lowe is facing several felonious assault and murder charges.
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News Center 7 uncovered paperwork about Lowe’s case. One document, filed on behalf of Lowe, said he is not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) and the other requested two different evaluations of his mental health.
Lowe appeared on video from jail and did not speak in front of a judge.
Dayton police said Lowe killed Daniel and Cathy Bell at a home on Holly Avenue on Dec. 3.
Detectives wrote in court documents that the 33-year-old used a sledgehammer to kill the couple.
Prominent Dayton Defense Attorney Patrick Mulligan is not representing Lowe, but he said the first thing to do is consider mental competency.
“Incompetent, that means right now you are unable to assist your lawyer on very basic functions,” Mulligan said.
Mulligan said a court will order evaluations and a defendant who is initially incompetent may be ruled competent later, with treatment or medication.
But that doesn’t mean they won’t use an NGRI defense.
“Because you have a person charged with a crime who is competent now, but who was very insane at the time of the offense,” Mulligan said.
These issues are being explored in Lowe’s case.
Mulligan said judges and juries will ultimately make the final decisions and use the same guidelines that have always been used.
“What are the facts? The facts matter and the facts always matter, no matter what kind of criminal case you have,” Mulligan said.
A Montgomery County Common Pleas Court judge set Lowe’s bond at $900,000.
News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.
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