Centreville man ruled
competent to stand trial in killing of 2 officers
Associated Press
Originally published March 29, 2002
SALISBURY - A man accused of killing two police officers outside his
Centreville home was ruled competent to stand trial yesterday by a
Wicomico County Circuit Court judge. Francis Zito, 42, of Centreville is
charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of
Centreville Patrolman Michael S. Nickerson and Queen Anne's County
Sheriff's Deputy Jason Schwenz. They were shot when they went to Ziro's
home to investigate a noise complaint in February 2001. Judge Donald C.
Davis said Zito's current mental state would allow him to stand trial.
That trial is scheduled for May in Wicomico County. Zito's attorneys did
not believe he could get a fair trial in Queen Anne's County, where the
slayings occurred. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death
penalty. Zito has pleaded not guilty and not criminally responsible. He
has been undergoing an evaluation at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital, a
state psychiatric center.
Copyright © 2002, The Baltimore Sun <http://www.sunspot.net/>
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