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June 2, 2007 - 6:45AM
Suspect in five slayings competent for trial
Gary Grado, Tribune
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge has found that the Scottsdale man accused of the shooting deaths of five people last year is mentally competent to represent himself, paving the way for his guilty plea and possible execution.
William C. Miller, 30, was ordered to undergo the mental examinations after he informed the court he wanted to plead guilty to the charges for which the state is seeking the death penalty.
Judge Margaret Mahoney will determine at a June 14 hearing whether Miller can fire his defense attorney and represent himself.
She wanted to wait on that decision until after his competency review.
Two doctors have examined him and found him competent.
Miller, a former Scottsdale businessman, was indicted on numerous charges, including five counts of first-degree murder, four counts of solicitation to commit first-degree murder and arson.
The charges stem from the deaths of Steven Duffy, 30, his brother Shane Duffy, 18, Tammy Lovell, 32, and her children, Cassandra Lovell, 15, and Jacob Lovell, 10.
They were gunned down in the middle of the night on Feb. 21, 2006, in their home at 2208 S. Barrington in Mesa.
Authorities believe Miller wanted to silence Steven Duffy and Tammy Lovell, his former employees who were informants in an arson case against him.
Miller, who owned a franchise of a company that restored fire damage, is accused of burning down his Scottsdale home in November 2005 to collect the insurance.
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