Man accused of murder to have his mental competency evaluated

KINGWOOD — Attorneys for a Kingwood man accused of murdering his wife are seeking an evaluation on whether he is mentally competent to stand trial.
Joseph Edward Harrison, 26, was indicted by the June Preston County Grand Jury on charges of first-degree murder and third or subsequent offense felony domestic battery. He is accused of stabbing and killing his estranged wife, Kimberly Harrison, at Rodeheaver Trailer Park in May.
At a hearing Monday, Preston Circuit Judge Steve Shaffer arraigned Harrison on the charges. Harrison pleaded not guilty. Assistant Prosecutor Savannah Wilkins asked that he be held without bail until trial.
She cited his previous violations of protective orders, multiple convictions for domestic battery, a prior conviction for brandishing a knife, a brandishing charge that was dismissed and the fact he could be sent to prison for life, if convicted.
She said the prosecution has two eye witnesses to the incident and some of it was captured on video.
“The state believes that he would be a flight risk,” Wilkins said.
Bond was previously set at $1 million in magistrate court. Harrison’s attorney, Jeremy Cooper, aid that, “A $1 million bond and no bond are essentially the same thing,” given Harrison’s financial circumstances.
Judge Shaffer ordered Harrison held without bond for the reasons Wilkins gave and set a Sept. 4 trial date.
Shaffer also signed off on the attorneys’ agreement to have Harrison’s mental competency evaluated. He also agreed to allow the defense to hire a criminal investigator who will help with its case, charging the state up to $5,000. Wilkins did not object, saying it is routine.