Citizen CENTENNIAL 1.3.13
Centennial
Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 7
January 4, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourcentennialnews.com
Mental exam ordered for murder suspect Court wants more information on man accused of killing mom By Deborah Grigsby
dgrigsby@ourcoloradonews.com A Centennial man, accused of poisoning his mother and dismembering her body, will undergo a court-ordered competency evaluation, despite objections from his defense team. In a Dec. 26 motion, Arapahoe County District Judge John L. Wheeler said sufficient doubt exists as to whether Ari Misha Liggett is fit to stand trial for first-degree
murder, and must undergo evaluation at the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo. Based on “conflicting information,” Wheeler felt insufficient evidence exists to determine whether Liggett’s current prescribed medication is appropriate, Liggett and if so, whether he would be competent to participate in court. While public defender Jennifer Ahnstedt ceded her client “has a mental disability,” she insists that with proper medication, the 24-year-old defendant is competent and able to assist his defense team in a mean-
ingful way. Ahnstedt told the court during a Dec. 19 hearing that with the appropriate psychotropic drugs, regularly administered in jail, Liggett no longer exhibits the behavior that was evidenced in previous instances. Prosecutors point to Liggett’s conduct shortly after his Oct. 17 arrest, as well as previous mental health evaluations tied to an unrelated weapons charge in 2010. According to court documents, during an Oct. 20 video interview with police, Liggett “exhibited behavior which was consistent with a mental disability and did not demonstrate a reasonable degree of rational and factual understanding of the questions being asked on that date.”
2012 IS IN THE BAG
Wheeler also spelled out the parameters in which CMHIP may conduct the competency evaluation Although state law permits mental health professionals to question Liggett regarding “circumstances surrounding the offense,” Wheeler specifically prohibited such questions, unless necessary in the determination of competency. Results of the competency evaluation will be delivered to the court and the results suppressed, available only to the parties’ legal team. Colorado law permits either party, as well as the court, to question the mental competency of a defendant. Both parties have 14 days to present objections.
Rec centers steel resolve Get fit and don’t quit with classes, programs By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com According to figures posted on statisticbrain.com, 45 percent of Americans usually make a New Year’s resolution, and losing weight and staying fit and healthy are both in the top five. South Suburban Parks and Recreation has programs at Goodson, Buck and Lone Tree recreation centers to help those who decide that 2013 is the year to drop a few pounds and improve physical fitness. “We have free fitness orientations at all three of our centers to help people learn the proper way to use our equipment if they decide to work out on their own,” said Jamie DeBartolomeis, South Suburban marketing specialist. There are classes and programs offering different types of conditioning and workout intensities, which people can join if they don’t want to work out on their own. “Some of the fitness classes offered include yoga, Zumba, aerobics, spinning, martial arts and aquatic fitness,” she said. “There are walk and tone classes and the boot camp that offers a high-intensity workout program.” She said the classes and programs use punch passes and do not involve a contract or commitment. DeBartolomeis said another option is to take instruction from a personal trainer. She said the personal trainer can help individuals set goals and help each individual devise a personalized program to achieve those goals. She said South Suburban is offering a 10 percent discount on some personal trainer packages. The three recreation centers offering programs outlined by DeBartolomeis are: Fitness continues on Page 7
For many, the new year is the perfect time to focus on fitness. File photo
Alex Schake, 8, competes in the the sack race at the Centennial Spring Fling in May. For more photo highlights from 2012, turn to page 8. File photo by Deborah Grigsby
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