Hearing scheduled for Va. man who wants death penalty

Posted to: Crime News
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The Associated Press
© July 17, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE

Authorities are trying to determine whether a Charlottesville man who agreed to plead guilty to killing an 11-year-old boy only if he is guaranteed the death penalty is competent to make that decision.

A Charlottesville psychologist and a Richmond psychiatrist are scheduled to testify Friday at a competency hearing for 28-year-old Waverly "Eddie" Whitlock. He is charged with capital murder, robbery and other crimes in the death of Aziz Damar Booth and the wounding of 23-year-old Rueben Lewis III a year ago.

Whitlock's attorneys told Circuit Judge Paul M. Peatross Jr. in May that he wanted to enter a plea agreement that calls for the death penalty and allows him to rescind the plea if he receives a lesser sentence.

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