For the second time this year, competency issues halted a preliminary hearing for 27-year-old Lee Purser, who is accused of the 2007 murder of his mother.
Purser appeared before Special District Judge Charles Tate at 9 a.m. Wednesday, but before the judge could begin hearing evidence in the case, Purser’s attorney, Mary Bruehl, challenged her client’s ability to assist her and co-counsel, Vicki Floyd, in his own defense.
Bruehl told the judge Purser, who is detained at the county jail, had not received his prescribed medication for schizophrenia Tuesday night nor had he gotten the morning dosage he was supposed to receive prior to his court appearance.
“He said he’s not hearing voices, but he is foggy and sleepy,” Bruehl said.
Tate recessed proceedings while District Attorney Craig Ladd contacted Carter County Detention Center officials concerning the allegation.
During the recess, Purser calmly talked with his attorneys, shed a few tears and smiled and laughed occasionally.
Court resumed about an hour later with Carter County Detention Center medical officer Kim Miller, a registered nurse, taking the stand. Miller said she had reviewed the defendant’s medical records.
“It appears he did not receive his meds last night or this morning,” Miller testified.
“Why?” Tate asked.
“We’re looking into it,” Miller said.
Ladd challenged the defense claim that the lack of two doses of a medication, which Purser has been taking for some time, would render him immediately incompetent.
Bruehl countered, “Today, at this moment, he is not competent.”
“There is no way I can make an independent judgement on whether he’s competent or not. The prudent thing to do is to come back when he’s been on his medication, but I do not want this to drag out,” Tate said, setting the preliminary hearing for 9 a.m. July 8.
Purser is charged with the July 17, 2007, slaying of his mother, Pam, at her Meridian Road residence. However, charges were not filed against the victim’s son until Nov. 21, 2008.
Ladd charged Purser with first-degree murder and obtained a warrant for his arrest at the same time.
Less than an hour after the warrant was issued, Purser was arrested by OSBI agents at a Norman apartment complex. He was taken into custody without incident, immediately transported to Ardmore and booked into the detention center.
At the time, Ladd said the 17-month investigation into the Lone Grove woman’s death ended when DNA evidence linked her son to the slaying.
