BENTONVILLE — The October jury trial for a Garfield man accused of killing his mother and grandmother was postponed Tuesday.
Nicholas Johansen, 20, is charged with two counts of capital murder and two counts of aggravated robbery. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the murders of Louise Bishop, 81, and Christina Bishop, 40.
The jury trial was slated to begin Oct. 8, but Circuit Judge Robin Green canceled the trial.
Johansen is expected to be sent to the Arkansas State Hospital for a mental evaluation beginning on Oct. 9.
Prosecutor Van Stone previously requested the evaluation to rebut or confirm findings from a neurological evaluation performed by Miami neurologist Barry Crown for Johansen’s defense.
A status hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 19.
Police believe the two women were killed June 18, 2009, at their Bentonville home on Southeast J Street. The Bishops were reported missing June 21, 2009. They were last seen at Sam’s Club in Bentonville.
Johansen and Michael Shane Winters were arrested in connection with the murders.
Winters was found guilty of the murder and robbery charges and he was sentenced to life imprisonment without the benefit of parole. He is being held in the Cummins Unit of the Arkansas Department of Correction.
Johansen is being held without bond in the Benton County Jail.