JONESBORO — A Craighead County judge wants more information before deciding whether to order a man charged with murder be forced to take anti-psychotic drugs.
Prosecutors have asked Circuit Judge Victor Hill to order that Cornelius Johnson be forced to take the medication in an effort to make him fit to stand trial. Johnson has been hospitalized since June when he was found mentally unfit for trial.
The Jonesboro Sun reports that Hill has told prosecutors and defense attorneys to agree on a date for another hearing on the prosecution request. Hill wrote that he’s concerned the drug would leave Johnson “slow-witted and sedate” and unable to assist in his defense.
Hill is charged with first-degree murder in the October 2010 shooting death of Verlee Harris in Jonesboro.