Aaron ThomasMANASSAS, Va. (AP)- A man accused of being the East Coast Rapist, allegedly responsible for 17 sexual assaults over a decade, will not be evaluated again for competency to stand trial.
Defense attorneys for Aaron Thomas had sought a second report after they say Thomas began trying to injure himself and stopped speaking to them. But a judge in Manassas denied the request Friday, agreeing with prosecutors that there was no reason for a new evaluation.
A prior report concluded Thomas was feigning mental illness. The judge warned Thomas he needs to cooperate with additional mental health evaluators. Otherwise, he risks not being able to present an insanity defense at trial.
Thomas attempted to speak out multiple times during the brief hearing, telling the judge he wanted to talk and was bleeding.
