Accused killer incompetent, judge decides

5/13/2006

A Toledo man who is accused in the beating death of his roommate in a nursing home is not competent to stand trial for the crime, a judge ruled yesterday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Sharon John Hawkins, 62, was ordered into treatment at North Coast Behavioral Healthcare System-Toledo Campus. Judge Gary Cook reviewed a psychological examination by the Court Diagnostic and Treatment Center before making his decision.

Mr. Hawkins is charged with one count of murder in the death of Norbert Konwin, 77. He is accused of beating Mr. Konwin with a towel bar March 10 in the room they shared at Foundation Park Care Center in South Toledo.

Mr. Konwin, who died two weeks after the attack, sustained fractured ribs, a fractured nose, and a collapsed lung.

In the evaluation, Mr. Hawkins was diagnosed with suffering from a mental disorder, namely dementia. The report also stated that he may become competent to stand trial with treatment.

Judge Cook set another hearing for Oct. 20 to determine competency.

Steven Groth, Mr. Hawkins' attorney, said that the diagnosis is consistent with his client's medical past.

"He certainly doesn't seem to me to know really what's going on," Mr. Groth said. "Clearly he's unable to stand trial."

The nursing home facility did not report the attack to the Ohio Department of Health and has since faced citations for that and various other problems.

The health department had planned to cut off Medicare and Medicaid payments for new admissions and had recommended other sanctions.