Accused Killer Won't Go To Trial

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Posted: 5:42 PM Dec 5, 2007
Last Updated: 11:51 AM Dec 6, 2007
Reporter: Brian Quick
Email Address: brian.quick@wibw.com

16 comments

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The man accused of raping, murdering and burning the body of 15-year-old Nacole Winter and leaving her near Lake Shawnee last December will not stand trial for the crime.

Judge Thomas Conklin determined Christopher Dwayne Hall is mentally incompetent after reading a mental evaluation, and after making his observations.

Winters family sobbed when the decision was read.

Family members don't believe Hall is incompetent -- and feel he should stand trial. Hall will be sent to a state hospital. If he is ever deemed competent, he will stand trial for the crime.

His status will be updated in a January 3 hearing.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: jessica williams Location: barryton mi on Jan 8, 2008 at 09:32 AM
i used to watch nacole when she was little, shes my cousin and i hope the people that have done this to her get the electric chair to my uncl and my aunt who i havent seen or talked to in years i am so sorry

Posted by: sick'n Location: eld on Dec 16, 2007 at 10:28 PM
It makes me sick-INCOMPENTANT! HE knew what&how- NOONE!! is INCOMPENTANT! HE SHOULD NEVER SEE DAYLIGHT AGAIN! WAKE UP AMERICA!!

Posted by: rbrokmann on Dec 6, 2007 at 07:59 PM
Way to Judge Conklin. You are right up their with Fred and his bunchas far as I am conserned!!!!! What in the Hell is wrong with you Judges? You all need to stand up and get some BALLS!!!!!!! He had enough so called smarts to set a person on fire!!!!! And you think he is in compant. Ever hear of ACTING!!!!!!!Topeka has become a VERY SAD place to live. When the Judges are letting MURDERS and RAPISTS LOOSE!!!! Plus doing nothing about Fred and his porno bunch!!! That's all I have to say about it. SHAME ON YOU, SHAME ON YOU.

Posted by: unknown Location: kansas on Dec 6, 2007 at 01:37 PM
That is so pathetic!! He should have the same thing done to him that he did to her so he can feel her pain. He has no right to live!! He doesn't even have a right to trial in my book!! He should have no chances!! She didn't! But God will give him what he deserves!!

Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on Dec 6, 2007 at 01:04 PM
how competant is the judge? once appointed, they are very hard to get out, incopetant or not.

Posted by: anonymous Location: topeka on Dec 6, 2007 at 01:00 PM
I think people are mis-understanding the system. It doesn't mean the defendant will NEVER go to trial, just not now. By sending him to this facility to get the treatment to be able to assist in future settings, will only be for the best interest of all the parties involved.

Posted by: cliff Location: wichita on Dec 6, 2007 at 12:45 PM
just make a note of the name, he will be in trouble again when he gets out of the "hospital" the best legal system money can buy.

Posted by: andrea Location: topeka on Dec 6, 2007 at 12:22 PM
OMG this is some bull shit nacole was my girl and her brother aj was one of my good friends...my heart goes out to aj and the rest of her family...i know how hard this is for them and all of her friends!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Manhattan on Dec 6, 2007 at 10:00 AM
If it where the Judge's daughter, what would he do then, I bet things would be different

Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 6, 2007 at 08:23 AM
If he was competent enough to know to destroy evidence, how could he be incompetent now? Or is this just a handy way to get out of being sent to prison?

Posted by: Killer B Location: Topeka on Dec 6, 2007 at 07:48 AM
YEAH Right - like we're supposed to believe this? What's going to be said when he screws up again? It's not likely he'll be a good boy from here on out, seems he already has a colorful past!! My heart goes out to the Winter's family!!

Posted by: BoB Location: Topeka on Dec 6, 2007 at 07:28 AM
It's not America, it's the high dollar crooked lawyers and doctors on the take.

Posted by: Just a Mom Location: Kansas on Dec 6, 2007 at 07:01 AM
That really just breaks my heart...not to mention, angers me to no end. I've been following this story as closely as I can because my daughter went to middle school with Nacole. They weren't friends, but my daughter knew who she was. I can't imagine what that family has gone through & is still going through. They need closure & now won't get it. To me, the guy isn't "incompetent". Of course I didn't do the evaluation, but it seems he knows what he's doing, considering his track record. People can get by with just about anything these days, which isn't very becoming to our justice *cough* system.

Posted by: no name Location: topeka on Dec 6, 2007 at 01:32 AM
THIS ANIMAL NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED FOR THE CRIME HE COMMITED HE HAS TAKEN THIS GIRLS LIFE AWAY FROM HER FAMILY

Posted by: Doesnt Location: matter on Dec 6, 2007 at 01:16 AM
aint that america

Posted by: g on Dec 5, 2007 at 10:35 PM
Incompetent,yeah right. Anything to get out of a murder trial. He'll keep up this act forever.