SARASOTA, FL -- A Sarasota County judge has determined that Michael King is competent to finish the penalty phase of his murder trial.
King was found guilty last week in the kidnapping, rape and murder of Northport mother Denise Amber Lee.
Judge Deno Economou made his ruling Thursday morning after hearing from two psychologists who evaluated King.
One of the psychologists, Dr. Eddy Regnier, said King is mentally competent.
The second doctor, Dr. Gregory DeClue, was was not certain if King is competent.
He said King told him he heard voices.
“I cannot say with a reasonable degree of psychological certainty whether he’s lying or not," DeClue told the court.
The proceedings continued.
