New delay for man suspected in 1988 rape and murder in Old Colorado City
Jun 21, 2019
"A new delay took root Friday in the case of a man tied by DNA to a three-decade-old rape and murder in Old Colorado City, as attorneys grappled with his extensive history of criminal convictions and psychiatric commitments.
A judge agreed for the second time to postpone an arraignment for James Edward Papol, who is charged in the July 5, 1988, killing of Mary Lynn Vialpando.
Papol, 46, was due to be arraigned in May, but his attorneys were given more time to consult with their client.
Friday’s request for more time came after the defense team reported it had received 4,400 pages of new mental health records 10 days ago. A defense expert needs to read through them to counsel attorneys about a possible insanity plea, his legal team said...
Papol, who is being held without bond at the El Paso County jail, was ordered to return to court
Aug. 1. That’s when a plea could be entered and a trial date set....
If Papol enters a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, his attorneys will argue at trial that he shouldn’t be convicted in the murder because he wasn’t of sound mind and didn’t understand the difference between right and wrong.
If found not guilty by reason of insanity, Papol would be committed to a state facility indefinitely for treatment.
A conviction of first-degree murder would mean an automatic life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole."
New delay for man suspected in 1988 rape and murder in Old Colorado City