The federal death penalty proceeding for convicted murderer and kidnapper Joseph Duncan will be delayed even longer while Duncan undergoes additional mental evaluations. U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge has ordered the additional evaluation as the court works to determine if Duncan is competent to represent himself in the federal sentencing for the 2005 kidnapping and abuse of Shasta and Dylan Groene – and the slaying of Dylan. The majority of recent filings in the case have been kept under seal by Lodge, and the attorneys are under a gag order. Duncan has already been evaluated by a Boise-area psychiatrist, and it has not been made clear why the additional mental evaluation is needed. The jury selection process has been suspended until all evaluations are finished and a decision is rendered on whether Duncan can act as his own attorney. Duncan could face the death penalty in the case.
(AP)