2007 bank robbery, murder suspect ruled competent to stand trial

This week a federal judge ruled that the suspect in a 2007 bank robbery is competent to stand trial.

William Merriweather, Jr. is charged with robbing the Wachovia Bank on Bessemer Super Highway on May 14, 2007.

Bank tellers Sheila McWaine Prevo and Eva Hudson were killed during the robbery and two other tellers, Anita Gordon and Latoya Freeman, were seriously injured. In 2009, the case was stalled when Merriweather's attorneys said he was not mentally competent to stand trial.

But after reviewing all the evidence, U.S. District court Judge David Proctor ruled not only was Merriweather competent to stand trial, but that he also understand the proceedings he now faces.

Merriweather also faces charges at the state level in connection to the same robbery. However, those cases have been put on hold while the federal competency issue was being addressed.

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