Fitness Hearing Scheduled in Nicholas Sheley Case.

A hearing on defendant's motion for determination of bona fide doubt is scheduled for Dec. 22 at 1:00 p.m. I plan on attending the hearing and will report what happens as soon as possible after.

Nicholas Sheley, a 29 year old Sterling, IL man is accused of a two-state killing spree that left eight people dead, in late June.
Sheley is being held in Galesburg, IL on a $10 million bond where he is charged in the death of Ronald Randall, 65, of Galesburg. If convicted, Sheley will face the death penalty.

At a hearing Sept. 19, Sheley told the court he wanted to fire his attorneys, James Harrell and Jeremy Karlin, and represent himself. He accused the pair of “sophisticated fast-lawyer talk” and said they were not adhering to his wishes for a speedy trial and his wishes were being “blown off as unimportant.”

Ninth Circuit Judge James Stewart said Sheley must undergo a fitness hearing to determine whether he is fit to stand trial, competent to waive his right to counsel and competent to represent himself before he is permitted to fire his attorneys and represent himself.

Hopefully this hearing will shed some light on how this trial will proceed. Sphere: Related Content