Competency hearings held for Dillon James Gresham, John Brennan Ball ocala.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ocala.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ocala man serving life sentence for shooting might get new trial
A man serving a life prison sentence for shooting a woman in the chest may get a new trial.
A jury found John Brennan Ball guilty of shooting Faith Guynn in February 2017. The attack left Guynn paralyzed.
Before trial, a medical expert evaluated Ball to determine whether he was competent to proceed. The defense said he was competent.
Last week, a three-judge panel from the 5th District Court of Appeal said the trial judge erred by not independently evaluating Ball s mental competency before he stood trial.
The jury found Ball guilty of carjacking with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of firearm/ammunition by a felon. The appellate court said Circuit Judge Lisa Herndon must take the case back and determine, if possible, whether Ball was competent to proceed at the time of trial.