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Judge: Man competent for trial in murders of 3 at meeting

1 min read

STROUDSBURG (AP) — A judge has ruled that a man is competent to stand trial in the shooting deaths of three people at a municipal meeting in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Judge Joseph Cronin denied a defense request that he find 60-year-old Rockne Newell unfit for trial in Monroe County and send him to a mental health facility for treatment.

Defense attorneys say Newell has a long history of mental illness and refuses to discuss what happened at the August 2013 supervisors’ meeting in Ross Township.

But the judge ruled that Newell’s refusal to cooperate with his attorneys stems from his choice rather than an inability to do so.

Authorities allege that Newell shot three people to death at the meeting and wounded a fourth person because he was upset after losing his property.

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