Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Judge orders second forensic evaluation after defendant testifies about interplanetary ‘portals’
Summary
A judge ordered a second, state-funded forensic evaluation for William Scott Burns to determine whether longstanding delusional beliefs about intergalactic travel impair his ability to assist counsel; the court set a June status date.
A Humphreys County judge ordered a second forensic competency evaluation at the state’s expense after hearing testimony that a defendant, William Scott Burns, describes traveling to other galaxies through “portals.” The court said the new evaluation must address whether Burns’s persistent beliefs interfere with his ability to assist counsel and stand trial.
The new evaluation follows testimony at a competency hearing in which Burns described “portals” and trips to other galaxies and said he works on space-shuttle technology and artificial-intelligence systems. Burns’s brother, James Burns, and his mother, Jennifer Burns, told the court they have observed the defendant expressing similar beliefs for years and that the…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
