Posted on: May 24, 2024, 11:10h.
Last updated on: May 24, 2024, 11:10h.
The accused murderer who allegedly ate his victim’s eyeball and ear was ruled competent Friday to stand trial by a Las Vegas judge.
The case against Colin Czech, 29, who was homeless at the time of his arrest, will be heading to a criminal trial based on the judge’s ruling.
Two mental health professionals examined Czech and revealed that he understands the charge against him and can assist his lawyer in his own defense, Clark County District Judge Christy Craig said on Friday, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Czech’s defense attorney, David Westbrook, requested the mental health evaluation.
“The allegations obviously are very serious,” Westbrook said a few weeks ago, according to Las Vegas TV station KSNV. “And what we’ve all read in the papers and seen on the news is very shocking.”
Czech remains in the Clark County Detention Center. No bail has been set. He will next appear in court on June 5 on the murder charge.
On April 28, Czech attacked the victim, identified in media reports as Kenneth Brown, near a bus stop close to Las Vegas Boulevard South.
Brown fell to the pavement after Czech assaulted him. Czech repeatedly pushed the victims’ head into the hard concrete, according to a witness.
Allegedly Chewed Eyes, Ears
Witnesses said Czech began to eat the victim’s face. Czech later admitted he chewed on the victim’s eyeballs and ears after Brown attacked him.
In his statement to police, Czech complained of “hearing voices in his head,” according to arrest reports.
He claimed to have not slept for “five days straight” before the murder, police further revealed, adding that he told officers something was “possessing him,” Las Vegas TV station KLAS reported.
Czech had “biological matter in his hair, mouth and on his clothing,” when Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers arrived at the crime scene.
Brown was rushed to a local hospital where he was declared dead. Brown had a relatively large cut on his head and an eye and ear were missing from his head when he was examined by a hospital physician, according to KLAS.
Awaiting Autopsy Results
The victim’s body was taken to the Clark County coroner’s office for an autopsy. Officials haven’t given an official cause or manner of death. Nor they have confirmed his identity.
There’s no word on what led to the dispute between the two men.
The scene of the crime is near the Las Vegas Arts District.
