The man accused of shooting three women, killing one and paralyzing another, in last year’s Midtown shooting spree is capable of standing trial, a judge ruled.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kelly A. Lee ruled Wednesday that Nkosi Thandiwe is mentally competent to be tried for the murder charge and numerous other charges against him.
In addition to accusations he killed Brittney Watts during lunchtime on July 15, police and prosecutors have charged him with three counts of felony murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, armed robbery, hijacking a car, aggravated battery and gun possession during the commission of a felony.
Police say Thandiwe encountered Watts in the parking garage of the building where they both worked. He shot Watts one time in the neck, investigators said, then took her car, leaving her to die.
Police say Thandiwe, 23, who was a security guard at the building, shot two other women as he exited the parking deck, hitting Tiffany Ferenczy in the leg and leaving Lauren Garcia with a spinal injury from which she remains paralyzed.
Thandiwe pleaded not guilty in November and underwent a mental evaluation late last year at the request of his attorney, John A. Garland. Lee determined in court Wednesday that Thandiwe could understand what was happening during a trial.
Garland, who is representing Thandiwe pro bono, also requested that the state assist with the costs associated with defending his client, because Thandiwe’s family couldn’t afford to pay for legal fees.
But Lee determined that Thandiwe was not indigent and promised to make a final ruling later in the week, Channel 2 reports.
Trial could start sometime in 2013, Lee said.
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