For the 3rd time, spree killer Nikko Jenkins is in front of a Douglas County judge to determine if he’s competent to proceed with his death penalty hearing.
Jenkins been housed at the Lincoln Correctional Center and State Penitentiary since August 2014, most of the time in solitary confinement. Since then he has since mutilated his face, tongue, and penis and attempted to hang himself at least twice. He also swallowed a set of keys.
The defense’s psychiatrist Doctor Bruce Gutnik testified Jenkins still suffers from a mental illness, and these incidents emphasize that.
Doctor Jennifer Simplebohn, a psychologist for the Lincoln Regional Center, said Jenkins was faking mental illness to get what he wants like a TV, radio, or different housing.
Jenkins testified on his own behalf against the advice of his attorney. He told the judge that being in solitary confinement has forced him to hurt himself. But Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine got Jenkins to admit that he understands what’s going on in court, and is trying to help in his defense.
“My intellect is not affected by my psychosis,” Jenkins told the court.
Curtis Bradford’s mother, Velita Glasgow, says no matter what it is and no matter how long it takes she’ll be there. He is convicted of murdering her son, Jorge Ruiz, Juan Pena, and Andrea Kruger in a 10 day span in 2013.
“This is evil, there’s a difference between mental and evil and this here is evil,” Glasgow explained. “It’s very, very, very hard to sit that close to him but I’m going to do it. I don’t care how hard it is.”
Oral arguments for the competency hearing have ended. Both attorneys will file briefs within the next 3 weeks, and the judge will rule after that.
