Video: Death Row Inmate Granted Mental Evaluation

Mack Arthur King

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ABERDEEN, Miss. (AP) – A federal court has ordered a mental evaluation for a Mississippi death row inmate.

Mack Arthur King, now 53, was sentenced to die by a Lowndes County jury in the death of 84-year-old Lela Patterson in 1980. Patterson was beaten, strangled and drowned at her home during a burglary.

King had his conviction and sentence overturned on two previous appeals.

He was tried and convicted for a third time in 2003 and sentenced to death.

King has claimed he suffers from mental issues and is barred from receiving the death penalty.

A federal court judge on Friday ordered King to be evaluated by a doctor with the state of Mississippi.

He has already been evaluated by a doctor as part of his defense.