BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - Vermont authorities trying to determine if a woman is mentally competent to stand trial on charges of shooting a firearms instructor in 2015 say she’s on a hunger strike and is refusing to attend court.
A prison supervisor said at a hearing Tuesday that Veronica Lewis hasn’t eaten since Jan. 9. She’s pleaded not guilty to attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of 48-year-old Darryl Montague at his Westford home, where he runs a firearms business. Lewis had a lesson.
Defense experts say the 32-year-old Lewis isn’t competent. A prosecution’s expert found Lewis suffers from depression, but believes she understands the proceedings.
Corrections officers testified Lewis said she didn’t have a lawyer and had already been sentenced. The supervisor said almost every time officers try to bring Lewis to court, they have to use force.
The judge hasn’t ruled yet.
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