FAYETTEVILLE -- A man charged with capital murder in the shooting death of his father last year is mentally fit to stand trial, according to doctors at Arkansas State Hospital.
Samuel Robert Hill, 27, is accused of shooting Allen Hill, 61, to death Aug. 20, 2014, at his house on Whitehouse Road near Elkins.
Hill's trial is set for five days beginning Sept. 21.
Hill pleaded not guilty to capital murder and aggravated assault on a family or household member. His attorney announced in late February his intent to pursue a defense of mental disease or defect.
A report from doctors filed in the case Wednesday concludes Hill did not have symptoms of mental disease or defect at the time of the alleged offenses and his state of mind was not of such a nature to render him incapable of appreciating the criminality of his conduct or incapable of conforming his conduct to the requirements of the law.
The report said Hill does suffer from borderline personality disorder and an unspecified eating disorder.
According to the mental exam, Hill went to his parents' home and shot Allen Hill, left and returned a short time later and fired more shots into the house.
If convicted of capital murder, Hill faces life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors have not decided whether they will seek the death penalty.
NW News on 08/27/2015