Murder Defendant Fit for Trial, Jury Says
A 47-year-old Ventura defendant whose screaming and rantings interrupted his murder trial is competent to continue with court proceedings, a jury found Tuesday.
After two days of testimony from mental health experts trying to determine the sanity of Tommy Welch, a jury took one hour to decide he is competent enough to proceed.
Welch spent two years in a state mental institution before doctors decided he was well enough to assist in his defense against charges of strangling his girlfriend, 45-year-old Marsha Rockvam, in August 1997.
But the trial came to a halt Nov. 5 when Welch began screaming in a holding cell and refused to enter the courtroom. The judge ordered a competency hearing.
Welch has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder charge.
His trial resumes today.
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