The preliminary hearing for Jamie Jovin Poindexter, accused of murdering a University graduate student in April, was postponed last Thursday, pending decisions about his ability to stand trial.
At the request of the defense attorney, the court ordered 18-year-old Poindexter to undergo a psychiatric exam to determine whether or not he is competent to stand trial.
Poindexter is charged with capital murder in the death of 28-year-old Alison Meloy.
If convicted he may face either life without parole or the death penalty.
According to the commonwealth attorney's office, the study conducted by the University Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy found Poindexter was incapable of assisting his attorneys in his defense.
But only a judge officially can decide whether or not Pointdexter is competent to stand trial.
"The evaluation has been completed but the results are still under consideration," Public Defense Attorney Jim Hingeley said.
The commonwealth attorney's office also must decide what action it will take in light of the results of the study.
Commonwealth Attorney James Camblos said the office has several courses of action, including requesting a second evaluation or a hearing with a judge.
July 26 has been set as a tentative deadline for the commonwealth attorney's office to assess what action it will take.
But a specific deadline has not been set for a decision in the case.
Poindexter, Meloy's next-door neighbor, was arrested shortly after her body was found in her townhouse apartment at 2117 Commonwealth Dr. on April 25.
She had been stabbed 15 to 20 times.
Albemarle County police discovered Meloy's body after an individual who knew Meloy reported that she had not been at work for the past several days.
She worked as a teaching assistant for Larry J. Sabato, a government and foreign affairs professor, in his Introduction to American Politics course.
Meloy's powder blue 1996 Nissan Sentra, missing at the scene, was found several days later in the 300 block of Greenbrier Drive, a half-mile from her home.
A man identified as Shane Barbour originally led police to Poindexter as a suspect.
According to a police affidavit, Poindexter confessed to Barbour and another man.
A 16-year-old from Waynesboro, Va., also was charged in the case with accessory after the fact.
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