Judge asked to decide competency of murder suspect

Tyrone Thompson

A Calhoun County judge heard arguments Monday over whether an expert is needed to determine whether an Anniston man is mentally competent to stand trial in connection with the April 2011 death of Wellborn Elementary School teacher Kevin Thompson.

Calhoun County Circuit Judge Debra Jones said she’ll need time to go over the information presented by prosecutors and defense attorneys  before issuing a ruling.

30 year old Tyrone Thompson, was indicted by a Calhoun County grand jury in May 2011 on a capital murder charge in connection with the kidnapping, robbery and killing of Kevin Thompson.

Thompson is the second of three suspects to be tried in connection with the teacher’s death. A judge in September sentenced Nicholas Smith to death after being found guilty for his involvement in the killing.

Prosecutors in Smith’s trial alleged that Tyrone Thompson, Smith and Jovon Gaston, of Jacksonville, kidnapped Kevin Thompson, drove him to several ATMs in Anniston and Jacksonville and robbed him of $400 at gunpoint. Those men also allegedly drove the victim to a secluded portion of U.S. 278 outside of Piedmont where Thompson was stabbed to death and left by the side of the road.