Judge: Wrongly imprisoned man must have competency exam

RALEIGH, N.C. – A man freed after 30 years on death row will undergo a competency evaluation as a judge considers whether his lawyers in a lawsuit are properly representing him.

U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle ruled Friday that Henry McCollum must be evaluated before his lawsuit can proceed against investigators who put him behind bars.

A court-appointed advocate argues McCollum was steered into dubious financial arrangements by his lawyers and he lacked the mental capacity to understand his representation agreement with them.

McCollum and his half brother were released from prison in 2014 because of DNA evidence and later pardoned of a 1983 killing. Their 2015 lawsuit notes both have intellectual disabilities.

McCollum testified last week that he can take care of his own affairs and he trusts his lawyers.