The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ga.)
Athens, Ala. (AP) -- A north Alabama man charged with capital murder in the Jan. 2 shooting deaths of two Athens police officers has pleaded innocent and innocent by reason of mental disease or defect.
Farron Barksdale, 25, is accused of gunning down Sgt. Larry Russell and officer Tony Mims, who were ambushed as they arrived at the Athens home of Barksdale’s mother. Authorities said Barksdale requested police assistance, then shot the officers as they arrived.
Defense attorneys filed a motion to move the trial, but Circuit Judge George Craig did not immediately make a ruling during the proceeding Wednesday.
He also ordered Barksdale to undergo a mental evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial.
Barksdale’s attorney, John Mays of Decatur, said Barksdale is a paranoid schizophrenic and did not understand what he was doing.
The capital murder charges carry a possible death penalty or life in prison without parole if convicted.