A Babbitt man accused of strangling his mother’s boyfriend to death has been found competent to participate in his own defense following a civil commitment to a state hospital.
Shawn Russel Doherty, 25, appeared in State District Court in Virginia on Monday for the first time since he was found incompetent to stand trial in April. Doherty earlier this month completed a six-month civil commitment, during which time he received treatment at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter.
Doherty is charged with second-degree murder in the January death of 55-year-old Paul Bulen of Mahtomedi, Minn. Authorities allege that Doherty strangled Bulen to death with his bare hands inside the home and then deposited his body in the street in front of the Babbitt home he shared with his mother.
A recent psychological evaluation found that Doherty has been restored to competency and is able to participate in his defense, according to defense attorney Bruce Williams. Williams filed a preliminary objection to the finding at Monday’s hearing, and said he will consider whether or not to challenge the finding.
“I wanted more time to review it,” he said. “Even though we’ve objected to the finding, we reserve the right to withdraw if we do not believe we will be challenging.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Williams described the finding as a “very small piece of the puzzle.”
Even if objections are dropped, the defense can still argue that Doherty was unable to understand the nature of the offense at the time of the crime and should be found not guilty by reason of mental deficiency.
Williams said Doherty has struggled with serious mental health issues for most of his life, dating back at least to age 5, when he witnessed his father drown at Birch Lake.
Doherty, who is being held on $1 million bail, is scheduled to appear in court again on Dec. 1.
