BTK Trial Scheduled Monday, But Where's the Jury?

The trial of Dennis Rader, accused of being the BTK serial killer who murdered 10 people in the Wichita, Kansas area in the 1970s and 1980s, is scheduled to begin Monday, but none of the preparations to ensure that a jury pool is ready have begun, according to court observers.

Prior to a trial hundreds of potential jurors are summoned and jury questionnaires are prepared ahead of the scheduled trial date, but none of that has been done in preparation of Rader's June 27 trial date, according to The Wichita Eagle.

Regardless, Rader is still scheduled to be in court Monday and family members of the BTK killer's victims have been notified of the appearance. The lack of jury preparations could mean that a plea bargain may be in the works, or it could mean that Rader plans to waive is right to a trial by jury.

However, it could also mean that Rader's attorneys are planning to request a competency hearing or psychological evaluation of their client in preparation for an insanity defense. Earlier this week, Rader complained to local news media that his attorneys were not been giving him copies of recent court filings.

Is Rader Competent?

In an unusual interview with a Wichita television station, Rader complained about not getting all of his mail, talked about his wife considering divorce and remarkably seemed to be concerned about his "public image" in the community.

It's possible that his attorneys will ask for Rader's mental state examined to determine if he is capable of assisting in his defense. Rader has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and to change his plea to guilty, he would have to be mentally competent to do so.

"The talk around the courthouse is that nobody knows what's going on in this case," Jim Pratt, a Wichita criminal defense lawyer, told the Eagle.

See Also:
BTK Suspect's Trial Still Set, But Jury Isn't
BTK Suspect Complains About Attorneys

Background:
The BTK Serial Killer
BTK Killer Crime Quiz
Daily Crime Headlines