DANVILLE - The grandmother of a Danville homicide victim understands why the defense attorney is arguing that the accused killer is not mentally competent to stand trial, but that doesn't mean she wants him to walk away.
"He has to get help, emotionally or mentally. I would not want to see him leave the prison without any type of help. I don't know what that entails, but he needs it," said Veda Kopitsky, of Coal Township, grandmother of Jessica Frederick, 25, who was killed in January, allegedly by her boyfriend, Westley T. Wise, 32, at their 508 E. Front St. home in Danville.
"He took a life. I feel that some type of..." she said, trailing off and searching for the appropriate word. After a moment's pause, she went on and reiterated: "I don't feel like he should just walk away from this."
Earlier this month, Wise's attorney, Anthony J. McDonald, of Berwick, filed court documents stating that Wise is incompetent to stand trial because of serious head trauma, which was a result of an accident at age 6 in 1984.
Suffering severe fractures to the skull and a coma for approximately 11 days, Wise had brain damage, which still affects him today. Additionally, he has depression, anxiety, paranoia and bipolar disorder, and has been under almost continuous care in regards to psychological and psychiatric issues since the accident and at the time of the incident in January, according to court documents.
McDonald is requesting Montour County pay for the evaluations, exams and reports.
Furthermore, McDonald has also filed a motion for a change of trial location due to extensive coverage in the broadcast and print media, in which the accounts of the proceedings "have been sensationalized and inaccurately reported."
In the same court documents, McDonald requested the jurors be sequestered during the time of the trial in this matter, to question prospective jurors individually and motions for suppression of certain evidence, for appointment of psychological and psychiatric expert and competency examination, appointment of a private investigator and to move Wise from Montour County's jail to the Columbia County Jail.
It was also requested that all written or oral statements by Wise to police investigators be suppressed. According to court documents, Wise had admitted that he stabbed Frederick with a serrated steak knife in the throat and chest between 7 and 8 p.m. Jan. 24 after an argument about their relationship. He had been drinking beer prior to the incident and took various medications after the stabbing.
"It's not anything that wasn't anticipated," said Montour County District Attorney Robert W. Buehner Jr. "A defendant is presumed to be competent to stand trial. The burden of proving otherwise is on the defense."
In January, when Albert Kopitsky, Frederick's grandfather, was interviewed, he said he and his wife were not angry and they had compassion for Wise. Veda Koptisky said their attitude, while still grieving as they seek counseling, is the same four months later.
"We do not harbor hate," she said, noting the family feels the same way.
She noted Wise's mental problems and having trouble in January dealing with the death of a good friend who was killed in a car accident.
"Everything came down on him at once," she said. "I'm a believer that everything happens for a reason. Only God knows. There must have been some reason."
As far as the attorney's recent filing of court documents, she said she understood.
"If the attorney feels that's the way he has to go, we're not going to say it's ridiculous," she said.
A pre-trial conference to discuss the newest filings will be held at 2 p.m. June 13 in the Montour County Courthouse, Danville.
Wise pleaded not guilty before Columbia-Montour President Judge Thomas James Jr. He was charged by Sgt. William Wilt III of the Danville Borough Police with the death of Frederick. She was a native of the Shamokin area before moving to Danville.
Buehner said last month that the death penalty will not be sought.
Wise remains in Montour County Prison, where he is being held without bail.